The cold wind of late autumn blew even harder at night. In the darkness of the night, the outline of the mountain was dim. The rustling of the surrounding was the sound of footsteps, half painful and half sobbing moans. The smell of blood spread faintly. Someone had fallen.
"… Get up, get up and walk …"
The voice was also weak. In the darkness, the figure moved a few times. Someone went to help, but the movement soon turned into a short cry. Because the cry belonged to a man, it was not long. Men did not easily shed tears, especially for soldiers. But it was also because of this that the short cry sounded even more tragic and sorrowful.
There were many people walking in the dark mountains. Many of them could feel the scene, but they could not do anything about it. They were all walking forward, either alone or supporting each other.
Soon, a small river blocked the way. Some people waded through it, while others stopped. They were not far from Qi County. Ning Yi raised his hand and said, "Let's take a break." Many people around him were clearly injured.
Ning Yi was also injured on the right side of his body. His shoulder and arm were both covered in bandages. The Takeshi people around him were all injured. Yuwen Feidu was supported by someone. He swayed and almost fainted just now. He had injuries on his legs, ribs, and back. When he fell while running, half of his face was scratched on the ground. But this was not a big deal. He was exhausted and lost too much blood. Coupled with the running and trekking, the only reason why he was able to hold on was that Takeshi's masters had laid a good physical foundation for him.
Compared to Yuwen Feidu, many of the experts in the Bamboo Shop knew how to stimulate their own potential and were more able to endure injuries. On the way here, several of them suddenly fell to the ground and quietly passed away with serious injuries. Before this, nearly a hundred people had perished in the battle formation. Not a single one of the carriages that they had brought along with them was left behind.
After such a defeat, killing, and running, in addition to the Takeshi people, Yue Fei, and the remnants of his subordinates, there were also many scattered soldiers. At this time, there were people crossing the river, and there were also people who saw Ning Yi and the others stop, so they also subconsciously stopped nearby. It was probably because they saw the courage of the Bamboo Shop's people on the battlefield. After the battle, the people scattered all over the mountains and plains, and those who came here could still maintain their formation.
Some things were hard to think about. After staying in Qi County for such a long time, they had made adjustments to the elm cannons. They had hoped that they would be of some use, but on the way there, they had all gone up in flames. Even half of the people from the Bamboo Shop had died. The rest were all injured and exhausted. It was hard to summarize what they had done. But if they thought about it from a bigger perspective, the power of hundreds of thousands of people had all gone up in flames. He didn't know if this would make people feel better.
In the past, at least in the past when Ning Yi was not discouraged, he was used to being the decision maker. But because of this, he understood more and more that if everyone was the decision maker, then nothing in the world would be accomplished. When he came out to help, he only had three to five hundred people with him. Even if he mobilized all the subordinates he could use, there were no more than a thousand people in the Bianliang battlefield. Although he was disappointed in the quality of the Wu dynasty's army and displeased with the childish changes in the internal and external government of the capital, since he was in this position, he could only do things cautiously. He pushed forward step by step, fortifying the walls and clearing the field. Until this night, when he sent out his troops, saying that he would cooperate with Yao Pingzhong of the Western Army to attack the camp and launch a major encirclement and annihilation, he had only followed. No matter how poor the quality of the Wu dynasty's army was, in the end, they would have to fight no matter what.
But after suffering such a crushing defeat, and as someone who knew many inside stories in the capital, it was impossible to say that he was not angry.
After sitting for a moment in the withered grass by the small forest and by the riverside, he went to check on the injured around him. Many of the Takeshi people were martial artists. Even when they went to the battlefield, they always brought medicine with them, and most of them had experience with injuries. Many of them had died of exhaustion while being pursued by the Female Zhenren. Now that they could rest a little, many of the seriously injured, as long as they were not dead, would be able to keep their lives.
But there were naturally exceptions to this kind of situation. As he passed through the crowd in the darkness, Ning Yi heard a martial arts master named Lin Nian talking to his disciples in a low voice about his experience in protecting his life on the battlefield and killing the enemy. There were some outstanding warriors among the Takeshi warriors, such as Zhu Biao and the Qi brothers, whom he had interacted with in the past and taken under his command. There were also some original leaders on Mount Liang, such as the scar-faced man Nie Shan who had followed Ning Yi to Lu Liang. There were also outsiders who had sought refuge with the Wu Feng Saber, such as Tian Donghan, the monk who used the bronze rod, Hou Lietang, and Lin Nian, who used the Five Phoenix Saber.
Among these warriors of the Wu Feng Sect, Tian Donghan was honest and down-to-earth, so even Zhou Dong rather admired him. Back then, it was through Tian Donghan that he had passed on the formation to Ning Yi. Hou Lietang had a violent personality and was obsessed with martial arts, but he was relatively taciturn. If he didn't get along with people, he would beat them with a stick. Lin Nian was nearly forty years old and had a skinny body, but he had a scholarly air about him. He was usually easygoing and was quite liked and respected by others. During the battle just now, he often brandished his saber and charged into the crowd, then pulled out his companions who were in danger and ran with large strides. Yet, he didn't sustain many injuries, which was enough to show the depth of his martial arts skills.
Ning Yi was also fond of martial arts. He heard him whisper to his disciple, "… Practice these moves repeatedly in the future. In battle, you'll have more chances to protect your life …" He walked over, but not long after, he heard Lin Nian's disciple hurriedly say in a low voice, "Master! Master! " When he hurriedly ran over, he saw the middle-aged man sitting under a tree with his head slightly tilted. No matter how much his disciple shook him, he didn't move.
A wounded Takeshi warrior who was resting next to him struggled over. He checked the man's breathing and pulse. After a while, he shook his head. Ning Yi also squatted down to check the man's pulse. "What's wrong? I heard Master Lin talking just now! "
The warrior shook his head. "Master Lin is at the end of his rope. He practiced martial arts in his early years and came from a poor family. His body already has internal injuries, and he's always coughing. In the battle just now … he's exhausted himself … "
Ning Yi was slightly stunned. He knew that Lin Nian came from a poor family and coughed occasionally. After joining Takeshi, Ning Yi never mistreated those who worked for him. He gave them a generous salary and often prepared meat for these martial arts practitioners. Only then did the man's complexion return to normal. However, in this day and age, people didn't pay much attention to nutrition. Many rich people were thrifty, so it wasn't unusual for them to be sickly all year round. At this time, Ning Yi cursed, "What kind of joke is this?" He placed Lin Nian on the ground and performed CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. This continued for a long time. The surrounding people watched in silence and doubt. Lin Nian's disciple had already started crying, and only then did Ning Yi finally give up.
After this torment, the injury on his right arm had already started to bleed again.
He sat next to Lin Nian's corpse for a while, then patted the disciple's shoulder. "From now on, you'll be taking care of your master's daughter." Only then did he stand up and leave. When Lin Nian came to seek refuge with him, he only brought along his equally emaciated daughter. That daughter was also sickly. He remembered that she was also very weak.
This wasn't the only tragic scene in the surroundings. Among the many injured and dead, some might have managed to survive, but it wasn't unusual for them to end up half-dead or with their limbs severed. Among the three Qi brothers, Qi Xinyi's left arm had been chopped off at the elbow. Although the cut was bandaged, he had lost too much blood, and it was hard to say whether he was dead or alive. He was one of the injured who couldn't leave. Qi Xinhan and the others first went to Qi County to find a trustworthy doctor and helper for further treatment. Qi Xinyong, who had fought all the way and then used all his strength to save his brothers, was also heavily injured and fainted. Ning Yi walked around but didn't have anything to say. In a sense, he was the one who had brought these people to the battlefield, and he was just the owner of a tavern.
After resting for a while, some of the Takeshi warriors who still had energy to spare were still treating the injuries of the scattered soldiers around them. In the direction of Qi County, this night, there was a bit of chaos. No one knew what was happening on the other side of the river, but there was a faint light at the end of their vision, staining the sky red. Ning Yi got up and looked around. He saw Yue Fei carrying his steel spear over. Just as he was about to say something, a figure appeared on the other side of the river on horseback and crossed the river.
The person leading the group of riders was a member of the Takeshi who had followed Qi Xinhan back to Qi County to find a doctor. Behind him were two people who looked like doctors, but their hair and beards were messy and they looked quite miserable. This person ran straight to Ning Yi's side and anxiously reported to Ning Yi.
"There are two thousand-man cavalry units of the Jurchens heading straight for the Qi County camp. News of the defeat at the front has arrived. The defending troops in the camp are not in the mood to fight, and only a few people are resisting. At this time, the Jurchens are burning and killing everywhere. Brother Qi went to help the other Takeshi brothers move the Ministry of Revenue's information and let us return first … "
"That's not right!" Yue Fei, who was beside him, took a step forward and shouted in a low voice, "The Jurchens are moving so quickly. They definitely aren't just trying to kill everyone … You said that the Jurchens are burning and killing everywhere, but have they found the location of the camp's logistics?"
The Takeshi member was slightly stunned, but Ning Yi had already reacted. "Their main focus is on food!"
"I wonder where General Qin is right now …" Yue Fei said in a low voice and exchanged a glance with Ning Yi. In this kind of defeat, if Qin Shaoqian was still alive and led the remnants of his troops back, it seemed like he could turn the tide. At the very least, the Jurchens wouldn't have to wipe out the Qi County camp. But now that this matter was mentioned, it seemed like the delusion of an incompetent person. After all, in the surroundings, their subordinates were already covered in wounds. Even if they realized the Jurchens' intentions, what could they do?
A battle of tens of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of thousands of soldiers wasn't something that a few hundred people could participate in.
The night was cold and restless. In the distance, the faint light in the sky seemed to be hinting at something. By the river, the desolate silence continued. As people walked, they tried not to make too much noise. But finally, there was the sound of flint. A torch lit up and swayed in the air. Ning Yi raised the torch, walked to a slightly higher place, and stuck it into a tree trunk.
He was also wrapped in bandages, covered in blood and tired. But looking at the crowd, he finally spoke.
"Today's matter has already become like this. Maybe I shouldn't say anything, shouldn't ask for anything, but …"
He was silent for a moment. "I still have to say it …"
The light from the fire illuminated the wretched and heavily injured people, as well as the forever silent corpses. But everyone was listening to these words …
*****
In the capital, Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and the others had already caught up with the Emperor's carriages. A little further, at the Nanxun Gate to the south of Bianliang, the Empress's carriages had already arrived. The Imperial Uncle, Liang Feng, was ordering the guards to open the gate.
The guard of the Nanxun Gate was called Cao Yan. He was a nameless general. Among his colleagues, he was known for his cowardice and self-preservation. But this time, when the Empress' decree came, he hid on the gate tower and desperately chanted Amitabha. He didn't dare to accept the decree and pretended that she wasn't there. This kind of attitude caused the Imperial Uncle to rush up to the gate tower and curse loudly.
Behind them, Li Gang's carriage finally caught up with Zhou Zhe's carriages. He stopped the carriage on the royal street and knelt on the ground. "Sinner Li Gang requests an audience with Your Majesty. Your Majesty, please don't leave the city!"
Zhou Zhe immediately summoned him.
"What crime have you committed? I … I don't really want to leave the city! It's just that the Empress was instigated by Liang Feng to persuade me to go south. I want to personally chase her back … "
"The western army has already been defeated. The Jin people have long planned this. At this time, the army can attack at any time. Your Majesty, even if you leave from the south, it won't be safe. Your Majesty, Li Gang requests that Your Majesty return to the palace …"
"I said I don't want to leave the city!"
Li Gang knelt on the ground and kowtowed with all his might. In reality, the scholars of the Wu Dynasty had a high status. Although they would occasionally kneel and kowtow, with Li Gang's status, he didn't need to do this. But because of this, an old man with a blood-stained bandage on his head kept kowtowing. Zhou Zhe couldn't do anything to him. Li Gang wouldn't listen to him saying that he was only chasing after the Empress. Once he reached the city gates, he would probably be dragged out by the Empress and the officials.
In this deadlock, someone came to report, "The Ministry of Rites, Yan Mingzhao, requests an audience …" This was a man who used to be an Imperial Censor. The moment he saw Zhou Zhe, he shouted, "The war is imminent. Your Majesty, how can you abandon the city and flee to the south …"
Zhou Zhe's face turned red with anger. As he cursed, he ordered his men to drag the man out. He also took the opportunity to have Li Gang pulled up. He said, "I will deal with this matter first. I will explain everything to you, Grand Chancellor. Just wait and see!" Just as he was about to order the carriages to move forward, another clamor was heard. "The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Tang Ke, requests an audience. The Ministry of Works, Yu Feng, requests an audience. He Jiting requests an audience …"
Within the city, a number of forces quickly blocked the way.
Zhou Zhe flew into a rage. He grabbed something from the carriage and threw it out. He shouted, "What are they doing! Disappear … What are they trying to do … "
At this time, a trusted eunuch knocked on the window and reported in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Grand Preceptor Cai asked me to tell you that there is a curfew tonight. It is not advisable to disturb the citizens …"
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