Dark clouds, desert snow, city walls.
Bianliang.
Millions of people gathered in the city. In this winter, it was no longer as noisy as it used to be. Separated by a wall, under the northern city wall, a thick layer of ice silently formed in the moat. Blood, corpses, and objects thrown down from the city wall sank into the moat while the other half rose out of the ice. As they cooled and melted, they gradually turned into ferocious ice sculptures. At this time, even the Female Enlightened Masters' camp in the distance had quietened down.
Within the thick and towering city wall, gray and white colors dyed everything. Occasionally, there would be flames of red, but it did not seem bright. The city was immersed in the sorrow of death and could not recover. Most of the corpses of the dead had been burned at one end of the city. The families of the victims brought back a handful of ashes, placed them in coffins, and made memorial tablets. Because the city gate was tightly shut, many small families could not even prepare coffins. The sound of the suona rang, the sound of the suona stopped. Every family was filled with the sound of crying, and when the sorrow reached the depths, they could not even cry. Some elderly and women, after hearing the death of their children and husbands, died quietly, either from cold or hunger, or from too much sorrow.
Such sorrow and desolation had never been seen in the entire city. Even though the offensive and defensive battles had stopped, the tension that shrouded both inside and outside the city had yet to subside. Ever since the Western Army Division Zhong and Zong Wang were completely annihilated, the peace talks outside the city continued day after day. The peace talks had not ended, and no one knew if the Female Enlightened Masters would attack the city again.
Everyone's spirit of dying together with the city had passed. After a little relief, the pain had already surged up, and not many people had that spirit anymore. The people in the city were nervous, paying attention to the news in the north. Sometimes, they could not help but slow down their footsteps, afraid that they would alarm the Female Enlightened Masters over there. The city had been surrounded for a long time, and the entire city was gradually turning into a huge block of ice.
Undercurrents quietly surged.
The wintersweet flowers bloomed, forming a beautiful red in the corner of the courtyard. The servant tried to walk carefully through the porch. In the main hall of the courtyard, the masters were talking. The leader was Tang Ke, Tang Qinsou, and the guest beside him was Yan Zheng, Yan Daozhang.
The charcoal fire in the beast pattern bronze furnace was burning, and the two spoke in a low voice without much disturbance.
"… Since the battle in Bianliang, countless people have died and were injured. These dead cannot be worthless … Although I strongly advocated peace, many of my thoughts are the same as Prime Minister Li and Prime Minister Qin. The Jin people are as fierce as tigers and wolves. Since the war has begun and they can force peace, peace talks should not be retreated. Otherwise, the Jin people will return … I have a lot of discussions with my brother these days … "
"… Lord Tang, I naturally understand Lord Geng's intentions. The peace talks cannot be carried out hastily. It's just that … Lord Li Gui's temperament is overly cautious. I'm afraid that he will only want to complete his task and will fail to respond. And this matter can't be too slow. If it is delayed, the Lady Zhenren will have no rations and will have no choice but to madly plunder hundreds of miles away. At that time, the peace talks will definitely fail … It's not easy to grasp … "
"… Grand Tutor Cai is wise. However, I think … with Wu Ruijun outside the city, the Enlightened Master may not dare to act rashly. Now we are gathering the defeated troops of the Western Army. I believe Wanyan Zongwang does not want to stay here for long. First is the elite troops, second is Taiyuan … If I have the elite troops, I will be able to deal with the next time Lady Zhenren comes to the south. With Taiyuan, we will not suffer any serious losses in this war. As for money, there is no harm in following Wuliao's example … "
"Unfortunately, this matter is not up to us …"
"… Yes. In this battle, the ones who contributed the most were the Left and Right Ministers, the Western Army, and Prime Minister Zhong … We, the Lord and the Peace Faction, indeed have nothing to do. However, at this time, all the forces in the court have to work together. I discussed with Prime Minister Qin yesterday. In this war, the Right Minister's residence contributed the most. His two sons, Shao He took control of Zong Han in Taiyuan, and Shao Qian repelled the Resentful Army in Xia Village. But in order to avoid arousing suspicion, the Right Minister seems to have the intention to retire … "
"… Prime Minister Qin is a hero. If he can retreat unscathed, it will be a good story …"
"… For the country and the people, even if there are millions of people, I will go forward. In the face of national calamity, how can I easily retreat because of slander? I understand what the Right Minister is thinking. In the beginning, for the sake of peace, he and I had many disputes, but the disputes were for the country, not personal grievances. Qin Siyuan avoiding arousing suspicion this time is not a good thing for the country. Brother Daozhang, the Wu Ruijun cannot be easily changed, and Taiyuan cannot be lost. These matters all fall on the Right Minister … "
"… Since Brother Tang says so, I will advance and retreat together with Brother Tang …"
In the burning charcoal, the whispered conversation gradually came to an end. Yan Zheng got up to leave, and Tang Ke saw him out. In the courtyard outside, the wintersweet contrasted with the white snow, the scenery was beautiful and pleasant. After saying goodbye, Yan Zheng said with a smile, "This year's snow is heavy, and there are many things to do. I only hope that the next year will be peaceful, and it can also be considered a good year."
"A good year, I hope so." Tang Ke also cupped his hands and smiled.
He saw Yan Zheng out, and then turned back. Under the eaves outside the hall, there was another old man holding a teacup and looking at the snow. This was his advisor, the great scholar Xu Xiangxuan.
"Advance and retreat together. Speaking of generosity, Yan Daozhang is a person without a backbone."
"I hope he will bring these words to Grand Tutor Cai …"
In the court, Yan Zheng Feng had a good reputation. On one hand, he was upright, and on the other hand, he had always been in contact with people like Tang Ke, who were both talented and virtuous. But in reality, he was Cai Jing's chess piece. Usually, he leaned towards the peace faction, but at the critical moment, he was nothing more than a messenger.
"Just now, Lord Geng and the others sent a message. The Duke is also a little hesitant. This time, it seems that he is not willing to stand up for this matter …"
"Reclaim Yan Yun, and retreat after the success. The Duke of Chu already has a reputation, it is reasonable that he does not stand up for it."
The two chatted for a while, and then there was another period of silence. There was a spark in the charcoal in the room, and the snow outside was chilling. Tang Ke looked at the snowy scenery for a moment, and sighed.
"Winter is not over yet …" He closed his eyes and exhaled a breath of white air.
"It is almost time …"
*****
Xue Changgong's body was wrapped in bandages, and he sat on a chair. Two superiors from the army came over to visit him. One was Hu Tang, and the other was Shen Jue. They were both middle and high-ranking officials of the Japanese army. They had been talking for a while.
"… Now, the Female Zhenren's battle line has retreated, and the garrison in the city can rest for a while. Although Brother Xue's position is important, at this time, you can rest assured and not delay things. "
"… As long as the peace talks are over, everyone can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Brother Xue will definitely be the main contributor this time, and it will be a great fortune. At that time, all the things in Brother Xue's house will have to be changed. "
"The Han Family is a small family, and we all rely on the love of the superiors and brothers to send us gifts. At this time, we still haven't counted clearly. After a big battle, the bones of our brothers have not even turned cold. Thinking of this, I feel very sorry. "Xue Changgong smiled weakly.
Hu Tang waved his hand, "Ah, you can't say it like that. For us martial artists, fame is taken from the sword, and the belt is tied with the head. Our brothers in the underworld have no luck, and those who are lucky enough to be alive have to eat, drink, and enjoy the fun. Those scholars will scold me if they hear this, but the army is like this. It is a good thing that Brother Xue cares about his brothers, but you can't miss out on the things that should be enjoyed. In this way, our brothers can risk their lives with you. "
Shen Jue smiled, "If we can survive this time, promotion and wealth will not be a problem. At that time, Brother Xue, you have to invite Fan Lou, I will definitely be there, haha …"
What they said was reasonable. Xue Changgong smiled and nodded, "… But, what is the situation outside the city now? I have been bedridden for a few days, and heard bits and pieces … The peace talks can't be completely trusted. If our morale is weak, and the Female Zhenren comes again, it will be a disaster … Also, I heard that something happened to the Husband of the Little Seed, I don't know the details … "
"The people in the western army are men, different from those outside the city." Hu Tang shook his head, "In the last battle at Wuzhang Ridge, the Husband of the Little Seed was seriously injured, and he personally led his soldiers to attack Zong Wang. In the end, he was beheaded and killed. Many of his cavalry and personal guards could have escaped, but in order to save the body of the Husband of the Little Seed, he charged five times in a row. In the last attempt, there were only about 30 people left, and all of them were seriously injured. In the end, the whole army was annihilated … The Husband of the Old Seed is also strong-willed. According to the army, when the Husband of the Little Seed led his army to attack Zong Wang, he sent someone to the capital to harass him. Later on, he was defeated and asked his personal guards to ask for reinforcements. When the personal guards entered the city, the Husband of the Old Seed detained them … Now, the heads of the Husband of the Little Seed and the hundreds of people who charged into the city are hanging outside the tent in the Female Zhenren's camp.
"I heard that the Husband of the Little Seed fought until his death, and he still believed that the Husband of the Old Seed would lead troops to rescue him. During the battle, he used this to boost morale several times. But in the end, the five armies in the capital did not move. " Shen Jue said in a low voice, "There's also a saying that the Husband of the Little Seed couldn't escape after fighting Zong Wang, so he already knew the result of the battle. He just told some lies to deceive everyone …"
Shen Jue paused, "After the Husband of the Little Seed died, Wu Ruiying led his army here. After that, Wu Sheng, Wu Wei, and a few other armies came. Chen Yanshu, Fang Lian, Lin Hetang, and more than a hundred thousand people advanced … Actually, if it wasn't for the attack from the western army, the peace talks wouldn't have ended so quickly …"
After defending the city for almost a month, they had seen many tragic things. But at this moment, the room was still a little silent. After a while, Xue Changgong coughed a few times because of his injuries. Hu Tang smiled.
"Speaking of military achievements, the people of Xia Village defeated Medicine Master Guo and now they're confronting the Jurchen outside the city. If we were to talk about rewards, they might be the ones with the most credit."
Shen Jue lowered his voice, "The country's army has always been led by the civil officials. In the army, we have suffered innumerable constraints. In the end, everyone can't beat them, they say that the officers and soldiers are incompetent. We are generals, we have no way to defend ourselves. Qin Shaoqian … He's the son of the Right Minister, so naturally, he's not restricted in his actions. That's why he was able to defeat the resentful army. This is a good thing, but … sigh, in short, it's always a good thing to win … "
"They're not having a good time outside the city." Hu Tang smiled, "The army of Xia Village is said to be led by Wu Ruiying, but in reality, the army outside the city has long been scattered. Now, they're confronting the Jurchen and wrangling. Among those commanders, Chen Yanshu, Fang Lian, and Lin Hetang, none of them are easy to deal with. I heard that outside the city, they go to Wu Ruiying every day to ask for people. They want them from the top and the bottom, and they even send their brothers out to persuade them. The people of Xia Village more or less have some bones. With them as bones, it won't be ugly when we fight. Everyone doesn't have people, so they all want to borrow the chicken to lay eggs … "
"We haven't come in contact with the people outside the city yet. When the Jurchen leaves, I'm afraid there will be some friction. The people that Brother Xue brought are the best of the Japanese army. We're facing the Jurchen head-on, while they're dealing with Medicine Master Guo outside the city. It's hard to say who's more difficult. When the time comes, our troops in the capital won't bully others. It's fine if we get military achievements, but we can't lose our prestige … "
"There's no need to worry too much. Their troubles outside the city haven't ended yet. Sometimes, it's not a good thing to stand out. Those who benefit are the ones who get rich quietly … "
The few of them talked about the things happening outside the city. It wasn't that they were taking pleasure in other people's misfortune. It was just that friction was common in the army to fight for merit, so they were all mentally prepared.
For the common people, it was over after the battle was over. For them, many things could be predicted after the battle was over. They were curious about the troops that defeated Medicine Master Guo, but they had never seen them before. They didn't know what they looked like. Now that they thought about it, when they confronted the Jurchen, they still had the advantage of the Western Army's desperate attack. If they really fought, they would definitely be defeated. However, facing hundreds of thousands of people outside the city, and with Medicine Master Guo gone, even if the Jurchen could win, it wouldn't mean much after seeing the resistance of Bianliang. They felt more relaxed when they talked about these things.
After all, the real wrangling and inside stories were still in the hands of those big shots. They only cared about the benefits they could get.
After talking for a while, Xue Changgong was injured, so the two of them bid farewell and refused Xue Changgong's offer to send them off. Looking out from the courtyard, it was a cold winter shrouded in dark clouds. It seemed to confirm the fact that the dust had not settled yet.
When he returned to the backyard, the maidservant told him that Miss Shishi had come.
In the bedroom, Shishi brought some expensive herbs and came to see He Lei 'er, who was still lying motionless on the bed. The two of them spoke in low voices. This was her second visit after a few days of truce.
The war had stopped, and the peace talks had begun. Shishi's help in the casualty barracks had also come to an end. As the most popular courtesan in the capital, her figure had become thinner and thinner after being busy in the army for a period of time. However, the experience during that period had also accumulated more fame for her. These few days must not have been leisurely, so her face still looked a little tired.
Even though she was past her prime, Shishi's status in Fanlou was still worlds apart from He Lei 'er. Xue Changgong didn't know why she came to see He Lei' er. Right now, martial artists were still popular, but even so, Xue Changgong didn't deserve such a popular courtesan, so he didn't think too much about it. When Shishi came out, the two of them greeted each other and exchanged a few words.
Xue Changgong remembered the reputation of Fanlou and couldn't help but ask Shishi about the peace talks. The private discussions of a few deputy generals and deputy generals couldn't possibly see through the current situation. However, in Fanlou, they received all kinds of high-ranking officials, so they would know more.
"… From the tone of the officials in the court, the peace talks should not be a big issue. General Xue, don't worry." After a moment of silence, Shishi said, "But the Japanese are the most successful in this war. I hope that General will not disappoint my sister after your meteoric rise."
Li Shishi didn't have much time. After speaking, she also left. As the carriage drove through the snow-covered streets, the noises of the surrounding city came in from time to time. When the curtains were lifted, most of the noises were crying. People who met on the streets couldn't help but sigh. There were indistinct sounds of sorrow. A small piece of white cloth was hung on the door of a house where someone had passed away. A child ran through the streets in a daze. Behind the half-closed door of a blacksmith shop, a child waved an iron hammer and struck monotonously. They didn't seem to be angry at all.
In these few days, time seemed to flow in a sticky paste.
The news that Xue Changgong told was monotonous and optimistic, but the reality was not so simple. Hundreds of thousands of people had died in a single battle. Sometimes, simply winning or losing wasn't important anymore. What really made people feel conflicted was that in the midst of these victories and defeats, people couldn't distinguish between simple sadness and joy. It was almost impossible to find a simple sustenance for all their feelings.
Before the war was over, all kinds of messy things had already begun.
In the imperial court, many high-ranking officials were operating in the dark, secretly linking up and scheming. Fanlou naturally couldn't see these clearly, but it was easy to find clues in private. The will of Imperial Tutor Cai, the will of His Majesty, the will of Duke of Chu, the will of the Left and Right Prime Ministers, the will of the pro-peace faction … In the flowing dark river, these things vaguely became the main body. As for the people who died, their wills were not important. It seemed that they had never been important.
Shishi was also a person who understood all kinds of inside stories, but only this time, she hoped that there would be some simple things in front of her. But when she thought deeply about the past, those things didn't exist anymore.
The impassioned Western Army, Zhong Shizhong's head was still hanging in the Jurchen camp, and the peace talks in the court were still unable to bring him back. The negotiation between Li Zhi and Zong Wang was even more complicated. All kinds of situations could appear, but behind the scenes, there were all kinds of wills mixed together, and no one could see anything exciting. In the battle to defend the city, the Right Prime Minister's residence was in charge of the logistics, and gathered a large number of people to defend the city. But now, it had begun to quiet down, because there were some ominous signs in the air.
When the news of the great victory of the Xia Village army first spread, it made people excited. But now, all kinds of forces were reaching out to this army. Outside the city, hundreds of thousands of people were still in confrontation with the Jurchen army. In the camp of the Xia Village army, there were already large amounts of wrangling every day. Yesterday, news came that there was even a small scale battle. According to the people who came to Fan Lou, these things were clearly instigated by people with ulterior motives, to not let the soldiers of the Wu Rui Camp be so happy.
And the people with ulterior motives were not just the higher-ups among the hundreds of thousands of people outside the city. Fan Lou's information network could faintly feel that the wills of people in the city, including Grand Preceptor Cai and Tong Guan, had already reached out to the outside of the city.
Compared to these tentacles and undercurrents, the tens of thousands of troops that were in confrontation with the Jurchen did not fiercely counterattack — — they could not be fierce. Separated by a tall city wall, Fan Lou was also unable to obtain too much information. To Shishi, all the complicated undercurrents seemed to flow past her. Regarding the negotiation, regarding the truce, regarding the value and meaning of all the dead, she suddenly could not simply find a place to entrust and return to.
She carefully stared at these things. When she woke up in the middle of the night, she also had a little hope. At this moment, in the Wu Rui Camp, the person she knew was still there. With his personality, he would not just sit and wait for death. After they reunited, he repeatedly made many unbelievable achievements. This time, she also hoped that when all the information was connected, he might have launched a counterattack and given all these messy people a sharp slap in the face — — even though this hope was slim, at least for now, she could still look forward to it.
After she sat in the horse carriage and returned to Fan Lou, she heard a special piece of news.
"Mister Su just came over from Takeshi and passed some things to us."
Her mother, Li Yun, called her over and gave her a small book. Shi Shi flipped through it and realized that it was a record of some people's experiences on the battlefield. Other than the battle in Xia Village, there were also some people from other armies, including the Western Army. Most of them were simple and heroic, and were suitable for publicity.
"Actually, Takeshi had already arranged to tell stories a few days ago. However, I have to tell you that the rumors are not right. I'm not sure if this treasure will be suppressed or not. You can help them talk to them, I don't care. "
Li Yun poured a cup of tea for her to warm her hands. Seeing Shishi raise her head to look at her, her gaze calm and complicated, she sighed and turned to look at the window.
"It's hard for you and me to say anything about these important people." She sat down on the chair opposite and looked up with a sigh. "This time, the Golden Men are coming south, and the sky is going to change. No one knows who will be in charge in the future … In these years, in the capital, some people rise and some fall. Some people have decades of glory and never fall. However, every time something big happens, there will be people who will rise and people who will fall. Daughter, the people you know and the people I know are all in this situation. This time, I don't know who will rise and who will fall, but things are definitely going to happen, that's for sure … "
Holding the book, Shishi was slightly silent.
"Let's not talk about this." Li Yun waved her hand and then lowered her voice. "I heard that Young Master Ning secretly returned to the capital and is secretly meeting people. These must be his handiwork. I know you can't sit still, so I'll let you rest for a day. Go and look for him. What does he want? What does Lord Qin of the Right Minister's Residence want? If he can give you a definite answer, I'll feel more at ease … "
Shishi's eyes lit up. After a while, she stood up and bowed. After thanking him, she asked for the location and went out.
The carriage drove through the streets of Bianliang, and the light snow gradually fell. Shishi ordered the coachman to take her to several places, including Takeshi's branch and the Su family. When it was time to help, the carriage turned around a small bridge on the side of Wenhui Building and stopped.
Shishi, wearing a white robe, got out of the carriage. On the second floor, beside a window that was lit with warm yellow light, Ning Yi was sitting there, quietly looking at something outside the window. He had a beard, and his expression was calm and indifferent. As if feeling the gaze from below, he turned his head and saw the woman who was putting down her hood by the carriage below. Snowflakes were falling slowly.
It seemed that someone had entered the room upstairs. Ning Yi looked over there and stood up, then turned to look at Shishi. He closed the window, and the blurry silhouette in the window greeted the guest, and then there was only a faint light.
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