Night gradually fell. In Xia Village, the battle paused.
The so-called pause was because in such an environment, not fighting at night was just a strategy chosen by both sides. No one knew if the other side would suddenly launch a strong attack. Guo Yaoshi and the others stood on the snowy slope and looked at the scene in Xia Village. Piles of bonfires were burning. The defenders, who still looked spirited, gathered by the camp walls. At the southeast breach of the camp walls, stones, wood, and even corpses were piled up, blocking that area.
Occasionally, there would be orderly shouts coming from within the camp walls.
Such a fierce battle had already been going on for six days. Their side had suffered heavy casualties, but the other side's casualties were not low either. Guo Yaoshi couldn't understand why these Wu dynasty soldiers could still shout.
From a battle point of view, the troops defending the city had the advantage of defending the camp. In a certain aspect, they had to bear more psychological pressure because when and how to attack was ultimately decided by their side. At night, their side could sleep relatively easily, but the other side had to be vigilant. These few nights, Guo Yaoshi would occasionally pretend to attack to exhaust the other side's energy. However, every time they realized that their side did not attack, the Xia Village defenders would laugh together and ridicule them.
After every battle, there would be waves of orderly shouts coming from the Xia Village camp. This was also to ridicule and demonstrate to the resentful army. Especially after six days of fighting, the more orderly the other side's shouts were, the more pressure they felt. Both sides were sparing no effort in carrying out their schemes to attack each other's mind.
Amidst the crackling sounds, the flames swam in front of him. Ning Yi walked to the fire and stopped for a while. The stretchers carrying the wounded passed by. In front of him, there were about a hundred people lined up neatly on the empty ground. They listened to the lecture of a man who was like an iron tower. After he finished speaking, everyone shouted in unison, "Yes!" However, after such a shout, most of them showed signs of fatigue. Some of them were injured, so they directly sat down and panted.
The hundred people here had participated in the battle during the day. At this moment, there were also groups of people near and far. After the lecture, they returned to their garrison posts. At this moment, the entire camp was filled with dense and messy footsteps. The bonfire burned. Due to the cold weather, there was a lot of smoke and dust. Many people walked around the smoke and distributed the porridge and food that they had prepared.
Most of the thousand people that were saved at Camel Mou Hill were now mobilized to participate in cooking and taking care of the wounded.
When the originally bullied captives first arrived at Xia Village, they only felt weakness and fear. Later, after being gradually mobilized and infected, they began to help. In fact, on one hand, because Xia Village was surrounded by Xia Village, the soldiers outside actually had the ability to fight against the resentful army. This gave them a lot of encouragement. After enduring day after day, this tormented troop, most of them were women. Due to their efforts, their morale was boosted a lot.
Although in the past few days of battle, the defending troops of Xia Village also suffered a lot of casualties. The troop's battle skills and proficiency were originally not as good as the resentful army. To be able to rely on the defense, elm cannons and other things to kill the resentful army and cause more casualties was not easy. A large number of people were trained and there were also a large number of people who were injured or even died. However, even if their bodies were injured and tired, when they saw those skinny women who were even injured doing their best to take care of the wounded, prepare food and help defend, these soldiers couldn't help but feel warm and honored.
For an army to grow, they had to brag and look at the facts that were placed in front of them. In this aspect, whether it was victory or the gratitude of being protected, they all had a certain weight. As there were many women among these people, the weight would be even heavier because of this.
Sometimes, the appearance of women in the army would reduce the fighting spirit. Sometimes, it wouldn't. Ning Yi allowed these people to interact with the soldiers. On the other hand, he also gave a strict order that these people were not allowed to be disrespected and bullied at will. In the past, there might have been fish that slipped through the net under such an order. However, the situation these few days was tense. There weren't any incidents of soldiers who couldn't help but rape women. Everything was still developing in a positive direction.
Ning Yi looked at the people who came down to deliver food and then looked at the resentful army's position. After a while, he sighed. Then, Hong Ti came from nearby. Half of her body was blood red. At this moment, blood had already started to coagulate on her body. Her condition was similar to Ning Yi's. She glanced at Ning Yi and came over to support him.
"Still want to walk," Ning Yi said.
"Go up first." Hong Ti shook her head. "You're too reckless today."
"If I don't charge at the front, how can I boost the morale?"
"You almost got hit by an arrow."
"On the battlefield, some things are also …"
He originally wanted to say it was inevitable, but Hong Ti's body was close to him. When the smell of blood and warmth came over, he suddenly understood what she meant in her silence. Even though she had been on the battlefield for a long time and had taken countless lives on the cruel battlefield, some fear still existed in the heart of the woman who was called "Blood Bodhisattva."
The two people covered in blood walked forward together. Hunchback Chen and the others followed behind. Not long after, they passed by a formation of 100 people. Ning Yi paused for a bit. "Can you still fight?!"
The leader of the soldiers stood up in fear and shouted, "Yes!"
The 100 people behind him all shouted, "Yes!"
Their voices spread through the snow valley.
Ning Yi nodded and went up with Hong Ti.
Juan 'er was running in front of the thatched hut. She was responsible for logistics and the wounded soldiers, so she was very busy in the rear. As for the maid, she still prepared hot water for Ning Yi and the others. Seeing Ning Yi and Hong Ti return with blood, she confirmed that Ning Yi was not injured and felt a bit relieved. Ning Yi stretched out his bloodless hand and patted her head.
"There was a soldier called Chen Gui who saved my life. He died. Remember his name so you can repay him in the future. You … should also take a break. "
Juan 'er was so busy that her hair was messy. She nodded and then shook her head. "I'm not tired. Young master, Miss Lu should go wash up first."
Ning Yi nodded and waved his hand to let Hunchback Chen and the others leave. Then he and Hong Ti entered the room. He was indeed tired and didn't want to get up from the chair. Hong Ti went to the side and poured hot water and cold water into a bucket. Then she let go of her hair and took off her bloody armor and pants. When she was only left with her underwear, she also took off her shoes and socks and put them to the side.
Even so, half of her face and hair were still stained with blood. However, it didn't make her look sad. Instead, it made people feel gentle. She walked to Ning Yi's side and helped him take off his armor that was also stained with blood.
"Your body hasn't fully recovered yet. You've used Six Paths Breaker today …"
"Sometimes you have to risk your life."
Ning Yi stood up and walked to the wooden bucket with hot water. After a while, Hong Ti also took off her clothes. She was slightly taller than the average girl and had long legs. At this moment, her body was only well-proportioned and didn't show any muscles. Although she had killed countless people on the battlefield today, when Ning Yi helped her wash the blood off her hair and face, she looked even more gentle and gentle. Both of them were tired. Ning Yi spoke in a low voice while Hong Ti listened in silence. After washing for a while, she hugged him and stood there with her forehead pressed against his neck. Her body was trembling slightly.
With Hong Ti's cultivation, even if she went out naked on a cold day, she wouldn't feel cold. It was just that after living as a married couple in Lu Liang and having a family, she was afraid of Ning Yi's danger on the battlefield. Ning Yi could only hug her.
"… The two sides are almost at the same level. Now it has become a game of stud. Let's see who will collapse first … I don't know either …"
At this point in the battle, all kinds of problems had appeared. The arrows were almost used up two days ago and the wood was almost used up. The resources that they thought were abundant were being consumed rapidly in the intense battle. Even for Ning Yi, the feeling of death was not good. It was not a good feeling to see the people around him die on the battlefield. It was not a good feeling to be saved by others. When the soldier died blocking the arrows for him, Ning Yi didn't know whether he felt lucky or angry. Or maybe he was angry because he felt lucky.
After a while, he threw away the water ladle in Hong Ti's hand and picked up a cotton cloth to wipe the water off her body. Hong Ti shook her head and said in a low voice, "You used Six Paths Breaker today …" But Ning Yi just frowned and shook his head. He pulled Hong Ti and threw her on the bed. Hong Ti was still hesitant, but then he grabbed her ankle and said, "Separate!"
When Ning Yi went up, Hong Ti hugged his body gently. Then, she obediently obeyed him …
On a platform below Xia Village's campsite, Mao Yishan was eating a steamed bun. He was sitting on a piece of wood and talking to a middle-aged man named Qu Qing. There was a roof above and a bonfire was burning next to it.
"Brother Qu. There's a girl I've taken a fancy to … "He imitated the old soldiers and pretended to be rude. But how could he fool Qu Qing?
"She's a used shoe." Lying on a simple stretcher, the injured Qu Qing tore the steamed bun in his hand. He looked at the women who were sending things near and far and said in a low voice. Then he said, "Let's talk about it if we can survive."
Mao Yishan shook his head and said, "Anyway … it's not what they want. Brother Qu, she has been sending food to me for the past two days. She told me to survive and kill more enemies. Brother Qu, I think … when she talks, her mind is a little off. Do you think many of them won't be able to survive after this battle … "
He looked at the campsite of the resentful army. "Why did such a group of people suddenly come …" He asked very softly. In the past few days, he had gotten to know quite a few brothers, and those brothers had died by his side.
Qu Qing didn't answer him.
*****
When they returned to the palace, it was already the time when tens of thousands of houses were lit.
Zhou Zhe walked up the walls of the inner palace and looked out. The cold wind was blowing. Du Chengxi followed behind and tried to persuade him to go down, but Zhou Zhe waved his hand.
What he saw at the side of the wall, including on the way out of the palace, was still circling in his mind. It was mixed with an impassioned melody and couldn't calm down for a long time.
Because of this, he didn't feel cold.
"Du Chengxi." After a long time, he spoke in the cold wind, "I, with such officials and soldiers, as long as I work hard to govern, I won't have to worry about the country not being peaceful. I was … very wrong in the past … "
"Your Majesty …" The Emperor reflected and Du Chengxi couldn't continue.
Fortunately, Zhou Zhe didn't need him to continue.
"I used to think that among the officials, they only knew how to scheme and fight for power. The people's hearts were also mediocre and couldn't pull themselves together. But seeing it today, I know that the mandate of heaven is still in my hands. These hundreds of years of heaven's grace were not in vain. It was just that I used the wrong method in the past. I need to go out of the palace often to see the people and the affairs of the world. Staying in the palace all the time, I can't do anything great. "
In his mind, the figure of Shishi playing the zither was still circling. He paused for a moment and couldn't help but blurt out, "That Miss Shishi …"
Du Chengxi took a step forward, "That Miss Shishi, does Your Majesty intend to …"
Zhou Zhe waved his hand, "That Miss Shishi, I've left the palace twice in the past, but I've never seen her. Seeing her today, I know that women are not inferior to men. It's a pity that I was too late. She has someone she loves, and I'm not the kind to break up a pair of lovers. Today, she can sing and play the zither for the soldiers guarding the city. If I can become friends with her in the future, it will be a blessing. Her lover is that … great scholar, Ning Liheng. He's not simple. He's the advisor of the Right Minister and assists Qin Siyuan. He's quite capable. Previously, he defeated the bandits in Liangshan and then took charge of the disaster relief. This time, he's strengthening the city walls and clearing the fields outside the city. Now, he's in Xia Village … "
"Such a talent …" Zhou Zhe sighed, "Even if the Right Minister's position is no longer Qin Siyuan, I won't let him leave. If there's a chance, I'll put him in an important position."
"I'm not a narrow-minded person. It's just a small matter, Du Chengxi." Zhou Zhe paused, "Now, the most important thing is that when the time comes, I want to negotiate for peace."
"Your Majesty, you mean …"
"I can't let more of these people die. Zong Wang has been attacking Bianliang for a long time. He must have suffered great losses. Now, Medicine Master Guo's troops are pinned down in Xia Village. Once there's a result, Zong Wang will definitely want to negotiate for peace. I haven't been involved in the war for a long time. When the time comes, it's time to show up. Now that things have come to this, it's hard to be calculative about temporary gains and losses. Let's put down our pride. The sooner it ends, the sooner I can do something! This country and the world can't go on like this. We have to reflect on the painful experience and work hard. What I've lost here, sooner or later, I'll get it back! "
He had been the Emperor for many years. The majesty of the Emperor had long been cultivated. At this moment, his eyes were fierce. When he said these words, in the cold wind, there was an imposing manner that looked down on the world. Du Chengxi was frightened and immediately knelt down …
The cold wind blew through the sky.
In the light of the fire in Xia Village, people came and went. The big tent of the resentful army was brightly lit. In the siege camp outside Bianliang City, the war horses and messengers were still coming and going. On the top of the city wall that was full of holes, the patrolling soldiers walked through the gaps or went around the sleeping soldiers behind the wall. Occasionally, the sound of the night watch could be heard. The cold light shone on the iron clothes.
In such a night, no one knew how many people and important thoughts were surging and intertwining.
The next day was the ninth of December. On the city wall of Bianliang City, the war continued. In the Xia Village, there was a strange silence from this morning. After fighting for a few days, the resentful army didn't attack for the first time.
"What's going on?" In the morning, Ning Yi walked to the watchtower and looked at the resentful army with a pair of binoculars. "Medicine Master Guo, this guy … Was he scared by my minefield?"
"If that's the case, it's not necessarily a good thing." Qin Shaoqian said. No matter what, he looked happy.
"Tsk, those idiots were scared. No matter what, it's good for our morale."
"I've arranged for them to spread the news." Wenren Bu 'Er walked to the watchtower and said.
This morning, the camp was full of joy and arrogance. Wenren Bu 'Er had arranged for people to challenge the resentful army from the beginning to the end. However, the resentful army didn't respond.
They didn't know that at the same time, a few miles away from the resentful army's camp, between the foothills and the forest, a battle was going on. Medicine Master Guo led his elite cavalry and launched an assault against an army of ten thousand people …
The sound of hooves rolled and shook the earth. In front of the army of ten thousand people, Long Hui, Fu Lu, and the others saw the iron hooves charging at them.
"Brothers, to protect the country and kill the enemy, I, Long Hui, will live and die with all of you …"
"Fu Lu will die with you …"
"Wang Chuanrong is here!"
"Cui He will live and die with you …"
"Ni Jianzhong of Taiyuan is here …"
Long Hui shouted at the troops around her! Following that, voices of agreement started to ring out.
The sky was full of dark clouds. It was going to snow again.
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