Beside the bushes, by the riverside. In the dusky atmosphere, there was only a tiny bit of light from the torches. The figures of the people around them were very dense, but also seemed very sparse. The shadows of the people around them stretched out continuously. The countless scattered soldiers also quietly came over and listened to the man under the tree talk to the east about the situation in Qi County. Then, there was a moment of silence.
"… It's hard to conclude whether what happened today was right or wrong. You all work for Takeshi. In the end, it's just a job. You never said you were going to the battlefield. I brought you all here and sacrificed so many of my companions. I feel guilty, but guilt can't solve the problem. "
In the light of the torches, Ning Yi's voice wasn't loud, but it was carried by the night wind and was enough for the people around him to hear clearly.
"Tonight, no one can solve this problem. An army of more than a hundred or two hundred thousand can't solve it. Just you, me, and the people around us, we've tried our best. But, I'm standing here talking to you all because I want to talk to you about this. "
"Fortify the walls and clear the fields." Ning Yi said with some exhaustion, "This is what we Takeshi have been doing recently. Many people don't understand and come to make a fuss. There are so many people around Bianliang. How can we clear it all? What's the point? In fact, it's meaningless even now. There are too many people around Bianliang. As long as there are people alive, there will be food. Even if we evacuate eighty or ninety percent of the people, tens of thousands of female Zhenrens can still find food here. It's meaningless. "
"For some people who are used to being vague and some officials, it's a good result if five hundred thousand of a million people leave. It's even more gratifying if six hundred thousand people leave. But it's not the case for us. From the beginning to the end, if the people don't leave, we'll be zero. A million people can't move nine hundred and fifty thousand. What we're doing is meaningless. " He waved his hand, and his tone became fierce. "From the beginning, this is what we've been doing!"
"We don't know how long this will take." Ning Yi's tone softened. "The army has suffered a defeat. What will happen to everyone? What will happen to the capital? We don't even know if the battle will end here. If the city is breached, and the Wu dynasty is finished, we don't even know. But if we're going to keep fighting, I'm going to do my job. But now that the Female Daoists have attacked the camp, I'm afraid the people over there no longer have the heart to fight. If they get their hands on the rations and supplies, what we are doing now will be beaten back to its original state. "
At this point, he paused for a moment. Because of his injuries, he was tired from talking. Looking behind him, he found a rock and sat down. Someone in the crowd chimed in, "Boss, just tell us what to do."
"You can't say that. I'm a reasonable person." Ning Yi sat down and shook his head. "If I want you to die, I have to make it clear to you. Otherwise, when everyone dies, you will blame me on the road to hell … You can't blame me if you die. This is a taboo for me."
He exhaled. "Of course, there is a possibility that we won't die. I want to choose some people, those who can still move, those who are skilled in martial arts, to go to Qi County to take a look. If the people in the camp have already burned all the rations and supplies, we'll turn around and leave. If not, we'll have to do it ourselves. There are only two thousand Female Daoists, and there are still a lot of people around Qi County. It's a mess. We will think of a way to get in and out quickly and leave once we're done. Maybe we can still keep our lives. That's … the plan. Who can still move? Who is willing to follow me? "
By the time he finished speaking, Zhu Biao had already come over with his gun. In the crowd, the person who had spoken earlier also stood up with the help of a tree. A few others also stood up. They were all former Liangshan people and could still move. Takeshi and the others usually received a lot of positive publicity, but in such a situation, many people were not only injured, tired, but also worried. They were more or less hesitant. Ning Yi just sat on the rock to rest and quietly watched everything. His words just now were not without encouragement and provocation, but it was enough. He did not want to force anyone to do such a thing.
One after another, people stood up, but he heard someone whisper, "Hunchback Chen, you don't want your wife and child anymore?"
The figure in the darkness was a slightly hunchbacked martial artist. He was being reminded by his seriously injured companion who was lying on the ground. The hunchback coldly smiled. "I, Hunchback Chen, have never been a good person. When I was young, I killed people and stole their goods. My wife was also stolen, but after she followed me, there was nothing I could do. I came here to make a living, but I know what is good and what is bad. I clearly saw what Takeshi has done in the past few years, how many people he has saved, and how many people he has saved. In the past few years, I, Hunchback Chen, have also done a few good things. Today, if someone else wanted me to fight with the Female Enlightened Masters, I would not care about them, but I am willing to sell my life here. "
This Hunchback Chen was a ruthless person with a bad reputation in the world of martial artists. Now that he said such generous words and laughed, he looked a bit ruthless. The person next to him nodded and said, "Hunchback Chen is right." Another person stood up. This Hunchback Chen looked at Ning Yi and said, "That's right. Boss, let me tell you. Others might not know about the things you have done, but we do. Every year, there are always people looking for trouble with you. Last year, a group of my sworn brothers also came and said they wanted to kill you to make a name for themselves. I, Hunchback Chen, have a bad reputation. I told them what you did, but they did not believe me. They thought I was bribed. I won't say anymore. I'll go in with a white knife and come out with a red knife. I'll kill them all and drag their corpses outside the city to be buried. “
Hearing this, everyone was silent. Someone said, "You didn't even call me for this." Ning Yi sat on the rock and laughed, "Who's your boss? Who's going to feed you? What? Do you want me to thank you? "
He was not polite, but Hunchback Chen was originally an evil person, so he liked this kind of thing. At this moment, he said, "I'm not talking about that. Boss, you have done so many things and saved so many people. I can't do it. I, Hunchback Chen, have a bad reputation. My sworn brothers used to be very important. After Takeshi's death, looking at them now, I don't think it's a big deal. Today, you said you wanted to do it, so we went to help you. But you don't have to go. You just rest here and wait for us to come back and tell you the good news. This is what I want to say! "
After he said this, the people around him immediately agreed. "That's right, that's right, Hunchback Chen is right!"
"Boss, you can't go. We will go!"
"You don't need to do this."
In the midst of the noise, Yuwen Feidu, who was lying on the ground not far away, stood up and raised his hand. "I, I want to go …" Ning Yi looked carefully and pointed. "Quick, help him!" Someone helped the fallen youth and let him lie on the ground. Ning Yi stood up with a serious expression. "Okay! I am not having a meeting here, so I don't want to talk about democracy! While everyone is still breathing, Zhu Biao will pick people! Those who are seriously injured can stay, don't try to make up the numbers! I am the Bloody Butcher, Ning Liheng. Zhou Dong has to be polite when he sees me, and even Lin Eechan doesn't dare to speak in front of me. Do I need you to teach me how to do things? "
At this time, there were dozens of people who were willing to go with Ning Yi to Qi County. After he said this, Zhu Biao went to select more people. At this time, someone raised his hand. "I, can I go? I am not injured, and I have learned some martial arts. I can help! "
It was a soldier who was not a member of Takeshi. After this person finished speaking, someone else stood up. Someone else said, "My brother died just now. I think what you said makes sense. I can go with you …"
The Wu Dynasty army, from top to bottom, had a mix of good and bad people. In a large-scale battle, it was difficult to trust each other. Even so, there were always some outstanding people in the army who were hot-blooded and willing to fight. At this time, in the darkness of the small riverside, figures stood up hesitantly and walked out of the crowd. The night wind blew. Ning Yi watched this scene, and Zhu Biao looked at Ning Yi. On Yue Fei's side, some soldiers also began to sign up. After a while, Ning Yi said coldly, "It's not enough to be hot-blooded. Those who can kill and have kung fu can go."
Then he added, "Don't blame me if you die there."
His tone was cold and stiff. When Zhu Biao went over to pick people, he put his hands on them one by one and tested their kung fu. He smiled and said, "From now on, we are brothers." Many people felt their chests burning.
*****
When Ning Yi's group of seventy to eighty people crossed the river and hills, dragging their exhausted bodies toward Qi County, the farce of scheming and plotting due to the defeat of the Western Army was reaching its climax in the capital.
Shishi went to a room on the outskirts of Fan Lou. Through the window, she watched the army rush through the streets. In the night, the city became faintly noisy, waking up many people from their slumber. For the common people, they were guessing whether the Zhenren had begun to attack the city again. On the solemn imperial street, many officials had rushed over and blocked the Emperor's carriage, begging the Emperor to return to the palace.
Zhou Zhe had been throwing a tantrum for a long time, but the development of the situation was beyond his expectations. Originally, he had wanted to chase the officials home in the name of a curfew, but just as the order was given, there was already a faint commotion in the city. Li Gang came over to report that someone had leaked the news of the defeat of the Western Army. Now, many people in the city were starting to make a ruckus. Most importantly, the group of Imperial College students wanted to go to the palace in the middle of the night under a curfew to petition — no one knew how they had secretly contacted each other.
The defeat of the Western Army was already a major event. Coupled with the problems in the city, if people knew that the Emperor had left in the night, no one knew what would happen. As Li Gang kowtowed, he said that he had already mobilized the army to maintain order. Zhou Zhe watched with veins popping on his forehead. Then Li Gang said that the Jin envoy was still in the city. If they knew that the Emperor had left the city, the Jin army in the north would definitely go around Bianliang and chase them south.
At this moment, Zhou Zhe also felt that there was nothing he could do to save the situation.
In the tower of Nanxun Gate, Imperial Uncle Liang Feng's curses rang through the night sky. In a small room on the side of the tower, General Cao Yan paced back and forth anxiously. He had wanted to go out many times, but the reason why he didn't was because of a figure in the corner of the room.
"Go out and open the door. The General is a sinner for all eternity."
In the darkness, the figure held the Buddhist beads and slowly moved them. Vaguely, it was the advisor of the Right Minister, Monk Jueming, who was also a relative of the Emperor …
*****
Bang —
An hour later, in the palace, Zhou Zhe smashed a huge vase.
"How dare they! How dare they! These civil officials, these traitors … they are forcing the Emperor to abdicate! They have no respect for the Emperor! They have no respect for me, the Emperor … "
The Empress knelt on the ground, facing Zhou Zhe who was about to go crazy. But Zhou Zhe ran over, pulled her up, and sat her down. After a while, he came to her again. "You are silly! You are silly too! Empress, you … "
He shook his finger for a long time, and finally waved it down. "Alas, I am also silly! Empress, look, all the commotion in the city, all the noise, it's all because of them! Those who want war, those who want peace, they have all joined forces to overthrow me, the Emperor. Li Gang! No, it's Qin Siyuan! Only Qin Siyuan can do this. He thinks that if he doesn't appear today, I won't know! I, I know very well … "
He paused for a while, and then shook his head. "No, no, no, it's not just him … Cai Jing! Hmph hmph, that old thing, Cai Jing, do you think I don't know? On the surface, he rushed over and acted as if he wanted to go south with me, but in reality, he … he secretly manipulated me, making me keep my eyes on the others. Do you think I don't know this old dog's tricks? He's amazing. If he leaves, he can still suppress those who aren't on his side. No matter what, he's profiting. All these things, I, I … "
He said this for a long time, and even his tone was a little stuttering. "Once, once the situation stabilizes, these guys, I want to … beat them one by one, beat them all, let them … know how powerful I am … I am the Son of Heaven!"
"I am the Son of Heaven …" He said, "The urgent thing now is to negotiate, to negotiate, no, no, no … there's no way to negotiate, the Female Zhenren has taken advantage of us, it's not easy to negotiate, but we have to negotiate no matter what … immediately send someone to summon the Jin envoy to discuss this matter …"
Before he finished, someone entered the palace and reported to him, "… there's a riot in the city. Some imperial students and people rushed into the temporary residence of the Jin envoy, Wang Ci. In the chaos, Wang Ci was beaten to death."
"You …" Zhou Zhe stood in front of the throne, his hands clenched, and looked at the eunuch who reported the news. After a while, his body swayed a little, and he sat down on the seat, his clenched hands pressed on his knees, his lips tightly pursed, slightly trembling with anger …
"Fine …" He gritted his teeth, and said, "Fine … let them be …"
*****
In Bianliang City, the Green Vine Garden was a small garden. Occasionally, Qin Siyuan would stop here to rest. It was already late at night, and in the darkness, Qin Siyuan sat in a pavilion. His gaze seemed to pass over the surrounding courtyards, over the city walls, and look at the place hundreds of miles away from the city.
Some people were already nearby, and some were also coming, including Yao Zunian, Jueming, and even Tang Ke who had just arrived.
"If I had a choice, I wouldn't want to do this, but there's no other way." He closed his eyes, and after a while, he sighed tiredly. "Duke Nian, after this, I'm afraid it's hard for us to have a good end …"
His voice was low, and no one spoke.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
