It was already nightfall. Wind and snow gathered around the Xia Village, merging with the light from the bonfires.
After the resentful army retreated, the surrounding area was once again under the complete control of the Xia Village. The big battle only came to an end in the afternoon. However, the various matters did not show any signs of coming to an end at this moment. The initial joy and excitement, as well as the joy of having escaped from the jaws of death, had temporarily faded. Various matters were currently swirling around the camp.
"… We've just won a major battle, and I know that everyone is tired. I'm also tired, but in the meeting just now, General Qin and Sir Ning have already decided to break camp tomorrow and reinforce the capital. All of you must properly relay this matter …"
In a small, brightly lit hut, the middle-ranking officers of the Xia Village Army were having a meeting. The news sent by their commanding officer, Pang Liu 'an, was not easy. However, even though they had been busy for the entire day, these officers, who had hundreds of subordinates, were still in high spirits.
"… After fighting for ten days and defeating Medicine Master Guo, everyone knows about our situation. However, the capital is in danger. The news from this afternoon is clear. Husband of the Little Seed has staked everything on one throw and attacked Zong Wang! He knew that Zong Wang's attack on the city was almost complete. If Zong Wang's army suffers any more casualties, it will be difficult for them to continue attacking the capital. Husband of the Little Seed has attracted Zong Wang's attention. However, the army in the capital cannot leave the city to reinforce them! Within a radius of several dozen li, we are the only army that can fight! "
"In today's meeting, Mister Ning emphasized that the battle in the capital has basically ended after Medicine Master Guo retreated! This is our victory! "
Under the light of the fire, Pang Liu 'an waved his hand. "However, the end only means that the overall situation has not changed. The capital can most likely be defended. However, have we really won this war? Tens of thousands of Jurchens have killed their way into our capital and attacked it several times! Outside Bianliang City, they have defeated hundreds of thousands of our soldiers! We have barely managed to force them to retreat. However, even if we force them to retreat, what can we do? If they come back in the future, can we stop them? "
"Brothers, General Qin and Mister Ning have said that regardless of the outcome of today's battle, there will be a decisive battle between our two countries in the future. This is a battle of life and death. In this battle, the most important thing is … the people who can fight! "
Pang Liu paused for a moment and looked at the group of generals. "For example, us from Xia Village, General Long and the others who came to rescue, and Husband who dared to fight against Lady Zhenren. The ones we can rely on are not the smart ones who shrink back after seeing the big picture, but the brothers who know the difficulties and advance! Everyone, if the Daoist Master wants to return safely, this battle is the only way. Our army's battle with Guo Yaoshi has hardened our swords into blades. Tomorrow we will break camp and meet the Jurchen army. Whether we fight or not, it will be a blood-soaked battle. When Lady Zhenren comes again, all of you will be the cornerstone of this country. How delightful it will be to join her in hunting the world … All of you must bring these matters to your brothers. "
The order that came from above was not long ago and was still fermenting. However, to the soldiers in Xia Village, they were more or less aware of it. A great victory was an unbearable weight for the soldiers of Xia Village at this moment. This was because such victories were too rare. They had rarely experienced such hardships and tenacity.
Although there were celebrations and revelries at noon and night, after eating and drinking to their heart's content, there were not many people who were purely immersed in joy. Before this, everyone here had experienced too many defeats and witnessed the deaths of too many companions. When death became the norm, people would not feel strange. However, when the option of not dying appeared in front of everyone, the question of why they died and why they were defeated would start to surge up.
To the current army in the world, this was probably the only army that would have such a feeling after a great battle. In a sense, this was also because of Ning Yi's guidance for the past few months. Therefore, after the victory, there were those who felt sad and those who cried. Of course, among these complicated emotions, joy and personal worship from the bottom of their hearts still accounted for a lot of them.
The image of Ning Yi and Qin Shaoqian, one civil and one military, the civil and the military, the civil strategy, the military decisiveness, plus the Black Cavalry from Lü Liang Mountain, the large number of people from the Underworld under Takeshi, all these things had a clear symbolic nature. In this army that was pieced together by a miscellaneous army, it was extremely easy to leave a mark in the hearts of the people.
After a big meal, Mao Yishan went to the wounded barracks to see a few of his brothers that he knew. When he came out, he saw Qu Qing greeting him. Over the past few days, this veteran brother who had been on the battlefield for many years always gave him a feeling of calmness and depression. Only at this moment, he became a little different. In the wind and snow, there was a happy and relaxed smile on his face.
No soldier would take the wind and snow in front of them seriously.
After chatting for a while, Qu Qing gave him a stone, "Stop strolling around, go back and sharpen your knife."
"Huh?" Mao Yishan was stunned, then he also understood, "Tomorrow, we still have to fight?"
"Maybe not tomorrow, maybe there won't be another battle, but with the Female Zhenren, there will definitely be a confrontation. It's best not to fight, if we fight, we're not afraid. We just need to be prepared. "
That afternoon, during the memorial service for Long Hui, even though everyone was tired, they were also excited. Not long after, there was news that Zhong Shizhong and Zong Wang were fighting head-on. After visiting a group of brothers who were injured but still happy for the victory, Mao Yishan, like some of the other soldiers, was already mentally prepared to fight against the Female Zhenren, and even had a faint desire for blood. But of course, wanting to do it was one thing, and actually doing it was another. Mao Yishan also knew that after ten days of fighting, even the soldiers who had not been sent to the casualty barracks were all exhausted.
However, if the higher-ups gave the order, then they must be confident, so there was nothing to think about.
At this moment, the two of them were halfway up the mountain, chatting for a while as they looked down the mountain. The camp gate of Xia Village actually seemed a little crowded, but that was because a few groups of people had come over not long ago. They were all from the other troops near Bianliang, and it was a little annoying to see. Mao Yishan thought of something and asked, "Brother Qu, in the past, you … actually served as an officer in a troop, right?"
Qu Qing's martial arts skills were not low, and he had a lot of battle experience. He could clearly see the development of many situations on the battlefield, and Mao Yishan had seen it before. Seeing that he was in a good mood today, he asked. Qu Qing looked down the mountain, but he did not get angry because of this question. After a while, he smiled, "Being an officer … is not as good as being a soldier."
"Then … Brother Qu, if this battle is over, will you and I return to our respective troops?"
This sentence was asked after Mao Yishan hesitated for a while. After asking, Qu Qing also became silent, but not long after, he looked at the bustling camp gate, frowned, snorted coldly, and did not say anything else.
It was not even a day after the battle of Xia Village, and it was only in the evening. At this time, envoys were sent from the various troops near Bianliang, one after another. These people, were high-ranking people from the other troops, were famous, and had martial arts skills. There were also some who once served as officers in the Wu Rui camp, and were recruited by Chen Yanshu and other high-ranking officials after the defeat. These people came one after another to congratulate Xia Village's great victory, and to praise Qin Shaoqian and the others for their outstanding achievements. On the other hand, they showed an attitude of following Qin Shaoqian's lead, and hoped that the Xia Village army would break camp and advance, and take advantage of this great victory to raise their morale, so that they could solve the siege of the capital city together.
And the arrival of these people also indirectly asked a question: At the beginning, because of the defeat of the various troops, the various sides gathered the defeated soldiers, and everyone's positions were messed up, but it was just a temporary measure. Now that they had a chance to take a breather, was it possible for these soldiers with different formations to return to their original formation?
The problem of the messy formation of the soldiers might be difficult to solve in a short time, but the position of the generals was relatively clear. For example, in the Xia Village army, He Zhicheng originally belonged to the Wuwei Army, He Chengzhong, and Mao Yishan's commanding officer, Pang Lingming, was a general under the Wusheng Army, Chen Yanshu. At this time, these kinds of middle-level generals were usually responsible for the scattered soldiers under them. The question of the small soldiers could be vague, but these generals could only be considered as "temporarily". Then, when could they bring the soldiers under them back?
The Xia Village side played dumb with these kinds of questions. But compared to their usual slowness, and their clumsiness when facing the Lady Zhenren, at this time, everyone's reaction seemed to be sharp and fast.
Who would be the real useless people who could come to this level to discuss things?
*****
The capital city.
After coming out of the imperial city, Qin Siyuan went to the Ministry of War and dealt with a bunch of things on hand. When he left the main hall of the Ministry of War, the wind and snow intersected, and the desolate lights of the city were covered in the wind and snow.
On this day, the Lady Zhenren temporarily stopped attacking the city. According to the news from all sides, after the long suffering, a ray of optimism had appeared. Even if the Female Zhenren won a great victory outside the city and then turned around to attack the city, her morale would have already declined, and would have been exhausted by the third. The officials in the court had already felt the possibility of peace talks. Although the defense of the capital city could not be relaxed, because of the pause of the Lady Zhenren's attack, they finally got a moment of respite.
But for Qin Siyuan, many things would not be reduced because of this. In fact, because of the possibility of the future, the things that needed to be prepared suddenly became more pressing.
Whether it was war or peace, the follow-up matters would only be more complicated.
"… Go to the Sour Jujube Sect."
After giving orders to his attendants, the old man got on the carriage and read some news by the oil lamp in the carriage. In the past few days of war, there were countless casualties. In Bianliang City, tens of thousands of people had died, creating a huge war weariness. The soaring price of goods and the disorder of public security were all things that were happening. Women, children, and old people who had lost their families cried day and night. Such sounds could be faintly heard on the road from the Ministry of War to the city wall. And the problems that these things turned into would eventually be gathered in the hands of the old man, turning into huge problems and pressure that ordinary people could not bear, pressing on his shoulders.
When he arrived near the devastated New Suanzao Gate, the old man put down the work at hand, got off the carriage, and slowly walked toward the city wall with his walking stick.
There were bonfires and tents for warmth around, and many soldiers and injured people gathered around. Many people would look in this direction. The old man's figure was thin. He waved away the attendants who wanted to help him and walked towards the city wall with his walking stick while thinking about something. He didn't look at these people, including those who were injured and those who had lost their family members in the city. These days, the old man was indifferent to most of them and didn't care about them. When he came to the high stairs, he did not ask for help. Instead, he slowly walked up the stairs while thinking about things.
The broken city wall was filled with the smell of blood. The wind and snow were fierce. In the night, the dimly lit Jurchen military camp could be seen. In the distance, it was pitch-black. The old man looked into the distance for a while. Some people and torches came over. The old man in the front bowed to Qin Siyuan in the wind and snow, and Qin Siyuan bowed to him. The two old men bowed to each other silently in the wind and snow.
After a while, the old man on the other side opened his mouth. It was Zhong Shidao.
"I heard about what happened in the hall today. Prime Minister Qin asked for troops for my brother. Shidao is very grateful."
"..." Speechless, Qin Siyuan cupped his fists together.
On the other side, Zhong Shidao had already straightened up. "But this gratitude is for personal reasons. Publicly, Shidao, like everyone else, does not agree with Prime Minister Qin's idea. The capital is in danger, and the troops in the city are almost depleted. If we rashly leave the city, we will be defeated by the Jurchen one by one. If the Jurchen staked everything on one throw and attacked the city again, we will only be stretched even more. Right Minister's suggestion … sigh … "
Both sides were extremely intelligent and experienced people. There were many things that were the same whether they said it or not. In the battle of Bianliang, Qin Siyuan was in charge of logistics and all mundane affairs. He did not interfere much with the battle. Zhong Shidao's arrival was inspiring, but when the Jurchen changed direction and attacked with all her might, the capital could not send reinforcements. This was something everyone knew. Under such circumstances, the only one who spoke up fiercely, wanting to use the last of his strength to fight with the Female Zhenren and save the seed, was the usually steady Qin Siyuan. This was really beyond everyone's expectation.
As a result, in the throne room today, other than Qin Siyuan himself, even his usual partner, Left Minister Li Gang, expressed his opposition to this matter. The matter of the capital concerned the survival of the country. How could someone stake everything on one throw?
Moreover, regardless of whether Zhong Shidao was dead or alive, there seemed to be hope for this battle to end. Why would there be such a problem?
The court ceremony lasted for a long time. In the end, Qin Siyuan only offended many people and did not achieve anything. After the meeting, the old man dealt with the government affairs and came over. As Zhong Shidao's elder brother, although Zhong Shidao expressed his gratitude to Qin Siyuan for his righteousness, he also felt that he could not send troops in the current situation.
"But … Prime Minister Qin, I don't understand. You know what the result of this proposal will be. Why do this …"
In the wind and snow, Zhong Shidao and Qin Siyuan walked to the side of the city wall. Looking at the darkness in the distance and the fate of Zhong Shidao who did not know where to go, he sighed in a low voice.
…
"… Qin Siyuan, this old dog, is really strange today."
In the imperial study, after writing a few words, Zhou Zhe put down the brush, frowned and took a deep breath. Then, he stood up and walked for a while.
"Du Chengxi, what do you think he wants to do …"
In the room, Du Chengxi, who had been looking down, trembled. "His Majesty said that the Right Minister is a genius. I really can't guess what he is thinking."
"Humph, a genius." Zhou Zhe clasped his hands behind his back and smiled. Then, he retracted his smile. "Qin Siyuan is a man of deep scheming. He is well-versed in both the strange and the righteous paths. He is indeed formidable. In the past, if he really had any devious ideas, he would definitely have arranged everything before the court meeting. But this time, humph, he proposed such an idea. Even Li Gang did not stand on his side. Who would believe that there is no trick in it? "
Du Chengxi hesitated. "Your Majesty is wise. It's just … I think, is it because the turning point of the battle has only appeared today, and the Right Minister wants to make connections, but it is too late?"
"Hmm? You old dog, speaking up for him, did you take his money? "Zhou Zhe glanced at Du Chengxi. Du Chengxi was so frightened that he hurriedly knelt down and begged for forgiveness. Zhou Zhe waved his hand again.
"Get up, get up. I was just joking. Even if you took the money, there is no harm. Do you think I will be bewitched by you? "He paused." But, you are thinking the wrong way. If there is not enough time, knowing that it is useless to force it, Qin Siyuan will naturally save himself the trouble of opening his mouth. Today, he is arguing with the officials. In my opinion, he must have realized that his position is awkward. He is afraid that someone will come after him, so he wants to make an enemy. This old dog, he is astute. He knows that it is a good thing to be scolded by others and reprimanded by me. But, how can I not see through such means … Heh … "
He smiled. That smile on his face lasted for a long time. Then, not knowing if he was chewing or reminiscing, he said a few words in a low voice, "Heh … Xia Village's great victory …"
In this low voice, someone came to report that Li Zhi had arrived.
"Summon him in."
Zhou Zhe said and walked back behind the desk.
Not long after, Li Zhi, the official who was responsible for the negotiation with the Lady Zhenren, came in.
…
"… War is different from political affairs."
The wind and snow pounced on the city wall. His pale hair and beard trembled in the wind and snow, already covered with frost.
Qin Siyuan stretched out his hand and touched the frozen bloodstains on the parapet wall. "All these years, I have been discussing with people what is the most important thing in a war. In Xia Village, my partner is Ning Yi. In the past, he loved to use ingenious skills. He was good at studying things and researching firearms. When scholars discuss war, they are always concerned about the tactics of war. What is in front, what is behind, and how to deal with a specific situation. However … when encountering the Liao people and the Lady Zhenren, they are all useless. This is because our dynasty values literature and belittles martial arts. Hundreds of thousands of troops have no will to fight. They are utterly defeated by tens of thousands of people … "
The old man paused and sighed. "Brother Zhong, scholars are like this. When discussing war with others, they must choose one of the two. In fact, all things in the world are inseparable from the word 'mean'. Confucius said, 'Open but not fast, literature and martial arts are useless. Fast but not open, literature and martial arts are useless.' Tension and relaxation are the ways of literature and martial arts. But stupid people often can't distinguish between them. In this old man's life, I seek stability, but when it comes to important matters, I always take risks. Now, Brother Zhong, do you think that even if we are lucky enough to survive this time, the Female Enlightened Master will not come again? "
Zhong Shidao said, "With this lesson, we only need to learn from it in the future. Today, we will work hard to govern, everyone in the court …"
"Brother Zhong, it is easy for you to say." Qin Siyuan smiled. "Hundreds of thousands of people were defeated outside the city. Hundreds of thousands of people died in the city. Even if there are millions of people, it is still meaningless. What is the truth of the world? What is the problem with the court and the army? Are there few people who can see clearly? What the world lacks is people who can see clearly. What it lacks is people who dare to bleed and die. The battle of Xia Village was like this. Before General Long Hui left, he invited everyone, but there were few who responded. It is said that Chen Yanshu stopped people from joining. Long Hui was defeated in the battle. Chen Yanshu is so smart! But if Long Hui did not stir up the people, the battle of Xia Village would have been lost. What is the use of smart people? If the world is filled with such 'smart people', when things come to a head, all of them will retreat in silence, knowing the danger, and be disheartened, then Xia Village and Bianliang won't even need to fight anymore. Millions of people will become slaves for pigs and dogs! "
"They are just smart. Real smart people are not like this." The old man shook his head. "What does our court lack now? What do we lack to stop the Golden Men from coming south next time? It is not the millions of people in the capital, nor the hundreds of thousands of soldiers outside the city. It is the ten thousand people in Xia Village, the ten thousand people who died under General Long Hui's sword, and the twenty thousand people who dared to fight against the Lady Zhenren, led by Little Zhong's Husband. Brother Zhong, without them, the millions of people in the capital are not people … "
Zhong Shidao was silent. Qin Siyuan looked at the darkness in the distance and his lips trembled. "I may not know much about war, but I only hope that the power in the city can restrain the Lady Zhenren so that she can't attack Little Zhong's Husband with all her strength. When the Xia Village's army comes, we will confront the Lady Zhenren's army. The capital will come out for peace talks, and we may be able to preserve our strength. With these people, we will have the seeds to face the Lady Zhenren next time. If we let Little Zhong's Husband's army die outside the city, who will dare to save the capital in the next war? I know this is risky, but who knows if there will be disasters in the future? If we can take the risk today, we can leave some capital for the future … "
"… Prime Minister Qin, you've put in a lot of effort. Shidao … thanks you on behalf of my brother and all the western troops." After a while, Zhong Shidao bowed again. The old man looked distressed. On the other side, Qin Siyuan also took a deep breath and returned the greeting. "Brother Zhong, it is this old man who thanks the Western Army on behalf of the people of the world. I am also the one who has let the Western Army down …"
He sighed. After a while, Zhong Shidao burst out laughing.
"In fact, Prime Minister Qin might be worrying too much." He said in the wind, "My younger brother always strives for stability when it comes to military matters. Whether or not he can defeat the enemy is secondary. Most of the time, he has already thought of an escape route. In the early years of the war with the Western Xia, he did exactly the same thing. Even if he is defeated, he can lead his troops to escape. Prime Minister Qin, you don't have to worry about him. "
"Oh, is that so?" Qin Siyuan replied. "Haha … I hope so."
On the city wall, the two tired men looked into the distance. The soldiers on the city wall also looked into the distance. Snowflakes fluttered in the darkness. Because the torches were not bright because of the wind, they could not see each other's faces. Tears flowed down Qin Siyuan's face in the darkness. Such a thing happened to this cold and resolute old man. It must be because the snow and wind were too strong on the city wall …
In the throne room, Zhou Zhe had finished giving the order to Li Zhi.
"… Prime Minister Zuo wants to go to the peace talks personally. After thinking about it, I think you have dealt with Zong Wang and are more tactful than Prime Minister Zuo. I allow you to go to the peace talks according to the circumstances. Right now, Zhong Shidao and the western army are being chased by Zong Wang. I don't want the western army to suffer too many losses. Take the order and leave the city quickly. This Wanyan Zongwang should also know the logic of quit while he's ahead! "
*****
North of Bianliang, Wuzhang Ridge.
Late at night, the wind and snow froze everything between heaven and earth.
On the Wuzhang Ridge, bonfires burned. Thousands of people gathered on the cold mountaintop. Because there was not much firewood around, there were not many bonfires that could be started. The soldiers and warhorses gathered together, snuggling against each other in the wind and snow to keep warm.
In the distance at the foot of the mountain, firelight patrolled. It was because of the soul-searching emissaries in the darkness.
Not long after, battle cries rang out along with the snow and wind, sweeping across the mountaintop. The soldiers braced themselves, wary of the enemy attacking in the darkness. But not long after, they realized that it was just a night attack by the enemy.
In a small tent at the very center of the camp, an old man whose body was wrapped in bandages and was still dripping blood opened his eyes and listened to this sound.
"The people asking for help … have they charged out …"
"They've charged out, they've charged out …" Wang Hongjia, the old deputy general who had followed him for many years, said.
"Don't stay here. Be careful of being surrounded. Tell everyone to leave quickly …"
"Yes."
Wang Hongjia agreed. After a while, he walked out of the small tent. A heavily injured general came over. "The Female Zhenren has cut off all directions …"
…
"… The retreat of the western army has been completely cut off by our army."
Outside the Wuzhang Ridge, in the temporary camp, a scout rushed over and reported the situation to Zong Wang. Zong Wang dismounted from his horse, untied his cloak, and threw it to his attendant. "Good, surround them! If they want to break out, cut another piece for me! I want them all to die here! "
After a day of fighting, the western army held out for more than half a day under the fierce attack of the Female Zhenren, and then collapsed. Zhong Shizhong led the main force to escape, but in fact, Zong Wang's anger for this battle had been completely vented on the suicidal western army. When the Female Zhenren cavalry pursued the western army with all their might, the main formation of the western army had no chance of escaping. They were cut up along the way, and those who were left behind were all slaughtered. In the end, they were forced to this mountaintop. Only then did both sides stop.
Not long after, someone else came.
"Commander-in-chief, an emissary from Bianliang has left the city. It's the man from the Wu dynasty who came to negotiate last time. The emperor of the Wu dynasty … "
"Kill him."
"… wants to negotiate peace with us."
"Oh? Don't kill him first. Bring him here. "
"Yes."
"Let him watch me kill all these people … then we'll negotiate with them!"
…
Bianliang.
Late at night, in a small room near the city wall, the people who came from outside the city saw the old man.
"Commander Zhong …" Several young generals with blood all over them knelt down. Some even cried when they saw the old man.
Zhong Shidao brought them some hot water and patted their shoulders. "I know, I know …"
"Commander Zhong, Little Zhong's Husband is trapped in the Wuzhang Ridge …"
"I know, I know. Cheng Ming and the others arrived before you, so they already know. Drink some hot water and warm yourself up …"
"Commander Zhong, will the imperial court send troops …"
"I said I know!" The old man's voice was stern for a moment, and then he said, "I'll take care of the rest. Eat something later and meet with Cheng Ming and the others. Someone will arrange for your treatment and accommodation. "
"Commander Zhong …"
They were soon taken away. In the room, Zhong Shidao sat on a chair and looked at the slightly swaying candlelight not far away. Soon, a guard came to him and reported that his companions had been settled. Zhong Shidao nodded. "You can leave now."
"Yes," the guard replied. When he was about to walk to the door of the room, he looked back. The old man was still sitting there in a daze, looking at the candlelight in front of him. He couldn't help but ask, "Commander Zhong, should we beg the imperial court …"
"… Don't be annoying if it's impossible," Zhong Shidao replied.
He thought of Qin Siyuan and what they had said on the city wall. In the dim light of the candlelight, the old man quietly closed his eyes. His wrinkled face trembled slightly.
…
The next morning, in the Wuzhang Ridge.
The wind and snow stopped.
Zhong Shidao walked out of the tent.
Although he was called Little Zhong's Husband, he was not young anymore, and his hair was all white. He was seriously injured yesterday, but he still put on his armor. Then, he mounted his warhorse and grabbed his guandao.
The soldiers gathered around him. Many of them were frozen to death last night and couldn't move now.
"My brother will come." Zhong Shidao ignored the dead soldiers and said to Wang Hongjia, "Follow me to break out of the encirclement!"
Wang Hongjia said, "Yes."
In Bianliang City, Zhong Shidao stood on the city wall and looked at the seemingly endless snowfield in the distance.
In a place where he couldn't see, Zhong Shidao rode his horse and brandished his saber, rushing to the cavalry of the Female Zhenren.
In Xia Village, the army broke camp and set out for battle.
In a small room in Bianliang City, Xue Changgong opened his eyes. The first thing he smelled was the smell of medicine. His body was tightly wrapped. He tilted his head slightly and saw a woman lying on the small bed next to him. She looked pale and breathed weakly. She also smelled of medicine. But she was still breathing. It was He Lei 'er.
Not long after — he didn't know how long — someone came to tell him that they were going to negotiate with the Female Zhenren.
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