The red-haired ghost, Liu Tang, was dead.
When it was close to dawn, the patrolling soldiers found something wrong in Liu Tang's tent. In the attack against Dulonggang the day before yesterday, Liu Tang was surrounded by Luan Tingyu and Zhu Biao. He was hit on the shoulder by Luan Tingyu, so he had been resting in the tent for the past two days. In the early hours of the morning, the patrolling soldiers found that the soldiers who should have been guarding outside the tent had disappeared. Such a thing was not so strange in Liangshan, but he still looked into the tent and smelled blood.
Liu Tang, who was recuperating, was beheaded. He died in the tent together with the soldiers who were guarding the tent and the soldiers who were guarding the tent.
In the past two nights, the Liangshan military camp had not been peaceful. The temporary rectification of military discipline could not have an immediate effect, but the middle and small leaders still had a tighter control over their subordinates. Therefore, despite the tense atmosphere, most people were more conscious. However, no one expected that in just over two days, the commotion released by the other party had directly spread to the leaders of the army.
The red-haired ghost, Liu Tang, was highly skilled in martial arts. In Liangshan, he was a veteran who had followed Chao Gai in the uprising. Even Song Jiang did not dare to neglect him. When Wu Yong and the others rushed over, Song Jiang had already cried in front of Liu Tang's body.
"Who did it, who did it, my brother Liu Tang … My brother Liu Tang's head must be found! Find out the person who did it, and I, Song Jiang, will cut him into pieces! "
His words were harsh, but in reality, the leaders who heard about it were a little confused and hesitant for a while.
Who did it? Where was the head?
The former must be quite complicated to trace, while the latter could only be speculated that the head was still in the camp. But if a large-scale search of the camp was conducted, it would cause too much disturbance. Dai Zong immediately arranged for his men to conduct a strict investigation. At the same time, he asked Liu Tang's direct subordinates in the surrounding tents about the situation last night. However, since Liu Tang was injured, he needed silence. Everyone restrained themselves, either went to bed early or went to other tents. These direct subordinates were of high status, and it was difficult to control them according to the military law. After asking, they did not find any useful information.
The matter had happened without anyone knowing, and it was so troublesome to investigate. The other party's position in the military camp must be extremely high. However, no one dared to voice this thought at the moment. Everyone could only suppress it in their hearts. After all, although the possibility was not low, it was only a possibility. If they said it out loud, it would only affect the morale of the army, and the evil thief might just laugh out loud.
In the tent, everyone could only suppress this matter for the time being. Due to the timely control of the news, the news of Liu Tang's death did not spread too widely among the middle-level leaders. The big bosses who knew basically ordered their subordinates to keep quiet, at least for the time being.
This matter could only be investigated internally for the time being. Zhu Jia Village saw that there was no space left for them to maneuver. It was estimated that they could start preparing to attack the village in less than half a day. After daybreak, the Liangshan soldiers began to move out on a large scale, preparing to clear out the last areas of the attack on the village so that the army could fully deploy in the vicinity of the village. In the same early morning, Luan Tingyu and the others were still releasing people in batches.
In the morning, Wu Yong and Song Jiang were watching the situation of the battle outside the tent, waiting for the news to come in wave after wave. Some of the generals who had returned to rest also gathered nearby. Dai Zong suddenly led some people over. He looked around and was about to speak to Wu Yong and Song Jiang with a somewhat serious expression. However, Song Jiang thought that he had brought news of Liu Tang and took the initiative to come forward. "Dean Dai, have you caught the murderer?"
"Not yet … There are some things that I need to tell Big Brother. This person is a brother who was released from the other side … "
"Oh." Song Jiang nodded, trying hard to maintain a pleasant expression. "Then …"
His original intention was that since they had been released, it would be fine to do as they had in the past. However, Dai Zong looked hesitant. Perhaps he did not want the surrounding leaders to get involved, but in fact, everyone had already noticed him. Song Jiang said, "What exactly is it? Dean Dai, just say it."
Dai Zong gritted his teeth. "Brother Liu Tang's head … is in Zhu Jia Village …"
Song Jiang was stunned. Although he was mentally prepared, his expression still contorted. Before he could say anything, Dai Zong said again, "That spy … Let him bring a message. The one who did it was a big boss in the camp …"
There were many leaders in Liangshan. Although they had not yet clearly ranked the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends, there was still a concept in terms of size. When Song Jiang heard this, he roared angrily, "Such blatant sowing discord, such blatant sowing discord … How can I believe him! He clearly wants to alienate me and my brothers. When I enter the Zhu Jia Village, I will definitely skin this person alive! "
After hearing about Liu Tang, everyone present was furious. Some of them even rushed out on the spot to lead the troops to continue the attack. Everyone was actually somewhat puzzled by Dai Zong's current behavior. He had always been shrewd, but he actually said such words in public. However, Dai Zong realized that such words had probably already spread throughout the camp. He stood there for a moment before finally saying, "This person … also brought some words. I think Brother Gongming and the military counselor should still listen to them. These words are extremely vicious, but I'm afraid … they can't be suppressed …"
Song Jiang looked at the captive and turned to walk toward the big tent. "Then come in and listen. How can there be anything in Liangshan Camp that needs to be hidden from our brothers!"
Some of the people present expressed that it did not matter whether they listened or not, while others followed Song Jiang into the big tent, each of them surprised and bewildered. Just as everyone entered and sat down, someone suddenly came to report that Zhu Jia had already hung Liu Tang's head on the outer wall of the village. They had even called people inside to shout in unison. Someone had surrendered and sent Liu Tang's head over. Song Jiang and the others were silent for a moment before they said to the captive who had returned, "What message did he ask you to bring? Speak!"
The captive had a bitter expression on his face as he looked at everyone. After a moment, he finally spoke. Not long after, the atmosphere in the camp had changed.
"… That person said that he had calculated every step of the camp's reaction and asked everyone to see for themselves whether it was true or not … Everyone had a clear idea. He also said that in just two or three days, the camp had become like this. Why? Because the things that we thought were naive were all his traps. He chose a place and we were the ones who dug the pit … He said that even if he explained everything clearly, there was nothing we could do about it. There were already people who had surrendered and there would only be more and more … Also, he said that the military counselor was … was …"
"Shut up!"
After talking for a while, Song Jiang slammed the table. Everyone knew that what the other party said was definitely not something good. However, it was slightly verified that in the three days starting from the fifth of June, the other party had set up traps step by step. Now, all the middle and lower level leaders of the Liangshan military camp had probably been infected by those seemingly childish words. As long as they themselves realized this, when they looked around … even the leaders in the tent felt that the other party's words could not be refuted, let alone those people. One could imagine how they felt in their hearts.
"Such treacherous words, have they ever, ever been in the camp …"
Song Jiang gritted his teeth and wanted to ask, but when he saw Dai Zong's expression, he already understood. It was precisely because Dai Zong realized that the matter had already spread and that it was already futile to control it that he allowed the current situation to happen. "This time, they released about the last thirty people, but only a dozen or so people … were controlled. Most of them … were trusted subordinates of the middle and small leaders …"
After hearing the words that could make the people in the tent unable to refute, these people would definitely feel that it "might" make sense. Even if it was possible, even if they had never betrayed Liangshan in their hearts, in order to leave a way out for themselves and their brothers, they would choose to send a message and let the higher-ups make their own judgment. Even if they knew that it was not good, they would still think that others would do the same. Everyone present knew this very well. It was impossible to suppress the matter. Even some of the leaders outside and inside might have already known about it, but no one would say it out loud.
Wu Yong sat there with a livid face and did not speak. However, if one sat to the side, one could see that one of his hands had been shaking. Indeed, anyone who encountered such a thing would feel aggrieved, aggrieved and uncomfortable. Since the fifth of June, they had been walking into the other party's trap every step of the way. This side originally boasted that they were in control of the overall situation. Even if the other party used some strategies, they would not be able to turn the tables. However, at this point today, when the other party's trap really hit the foundation of their side and they realized the danger, everything felt different.
Such an overt plot was laid out for you to hear. In fact, today's round had reached its climax. The other party just sat there and made it clear that he was trying to sow discord between the two of them. Everything he said might be false, but he still had to believe it. Even if he didn't believe it, there would definitely be someone who did. There would definitely be someone who would betray him, because that might be how they saw him. Because he knew very well what the Liangshan army and its people were like at the moment. The more they knew, the more doomed they would be.
As long as one could think, he would fall into the trap. And after falling into the trap, there was no difference whether he thought about it or not.
It was an endless cycle of death.
The news of Liu Tang's death should have already spread. God knew how many people in the military camp were talking about it. At this time, the other party's words might not have been widely spread, but many of the leaders probably already had an idea. Wu Yong pressed his forehead and wanted to say something. Suddenly, he heard cursing and quarreling coming from outside the tent. But then, the quarrel did not last too long. Someone tried to mediate, and both sides probably restrained themselves. After that, Li Kui and Wu Song, who had been fighting outside for a while, opened the tent door and came in. Li Kui was still full of hostility. Song Jiang suppressed his emotions. "What's wrong?"
Li Kui put down his broad axe and did not speak. Wu Song hesitated for a moment. "It's Fan Rui and Xiang Tong. They're looking for Brother Li Gun …"
Wu Yong's slightly dull eyes turned. "What's wrong with Brother Li?"
"They haven't seen him yet. They asked Brother Li's bodyguard. The bodyguard said … the last time he saw Brother Li was when he went to check on Brother Liu Tang's injury late at night. After that, he didn't go back. Iron Bull scolded him …"
The "Devil Incarnate" Fan Rui and "Eight-Armed Nezha" Xiang Tong were originally brothers with the "Flying Sage" Li Gun on Mount Mangdang. Later, they went to Liangshan together. Although their positions were not very high, they were still quite united. Li Kui was hot-tempered. He had just come down from the battlefield and was also angry when he saw Liu Tang's head. He could not help but scold Fan Rui casually. Fan Rui then quarreled with him. "You scolded my brother! How dare you scold my brother! My brother might have been killed by now!"
At that time, when Wu Song intervened, both sides restrained themselves. At this moment, Li Kui sullenly said, "This bastard, if …"
Song Jiang slammed the table. "You shut up!" His voice shook the entire tent. For a moment, even Li Kui was shocked. Wu Yong's teeth trembled. He muttered in a low voice, "Sowing discord, sowing discord …"
Lu Zhishen, who had been sitting and listening for a long time, said, "I'm afraid it's not going to be good if this goes on …"
His words implied that he wanted to retreat. Looking around, everyone did not know what to say for a moment. Wu Yong stood up. "No."
At this moment, his body was trembling. "Attack by force. We can only attack by force now. Brother Gongming, brothers, if we don't win this battle, Liangshan will be destroyed … Liangshan will be destroyed."
His words were like a nightmare that spread throughout the tent. Everyone had different expressions on their faces. They were all shocked and bewildered as they looked at each other. Outside the tent, many people had already understood the development of the situation. Xi Junyu originally wanted to come to the main tent, but he had seen the conflict between Li Kui and Fan Rui and listened for a while outside the tent. At this moment, he raised his head. The sky at the beginning of June was bright and beautiful, but at this moment, there seemed to be a cold air enveloping everyone, making them feel a chill down their spines. From the fifth of June until now, everyone clearly knew everything that had happened. However, in their eyes, the reason why things had turned out this way was indeed clear and transparent. It was so strange that it was incomprehensible. They … had never seen such a thing before. In fact, they had never even heard of it.
"Three days … Only three days …" Xi Junyu murmured softly.
From the afternoon of the fifth of June to the morning of the eighth of June, it was exactly three days. Rather than saying it was a war, it was more like someone had released the most vicious and strange nightmare on the other side. Under the sun, almost everyone who knew about the situation could not help but rein in their horses and look in the direction of the Zhu Village. Feeling the arrival of the cold air, their minds went blank for a moment. Then, they did not know what to do.
"How … could this be …"
The situation was so ridiculous that it almost made people laugh. No one was willing to believe it, but the nightmare was escaping from people's hearts, occupying their bodies and manifesting its form. As long as they took one more step forward, everyone could see that all of this would become a reality with its fangs and claws …
Next, should they advance or retreat?
On top of the stone wall outside the Zhu Village, the sun shone down. Ning Yi hid behind the shield and looked at the military camp on the other side of Liangshan, thinking for a while.
"So … it's even …"
*****
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