In the spring of the fourteenth year of Jinghan's reign, in the middle of the third month, a gloomy spring rain descended upon Dragon City's Taiyuan.
Lightning occasionally streaked across the sky, revealing the ruined and craggy body of the ruined city under the curtain of night. Even in the rain, it still appeared scorched black. Before this, the traces of the Female Daoists' arson and slaughter were so thick that they could not be removed. In order to ensure that everyone in the city was found, the Female Daoists continued to plunder and plunder without restraint. Street by street, street by street, they set fire to the entire city. Corpses were everywhere in the ruins. The moat, the plaza, the market, every well, and every house were covered in wretched corpses. Corpses gathered, and the waters near Taiyuan were pitch-black.
The enormous stench of corpses pervaded the air near Taiyuan.
If it were a sentimental poet or singer, they might say that the descent of this spring rain was like the heavens could no longer watch and was washing away the sins of the world.
But in reality, this was not the case.
At Yanmen Pass, a large number of slaves in ragged clothes were being driven like pigs and dogs. Occasionally, someone would fall, and then the nearby Female Daoists would swing their whips, curse, and beat them, or simply draw their blades and kill them.
After ten days of unstoppable plundering in Taiyuan, the number of captives that could be captured from the ruined city was no longer as many as expected. But it didn't matter. From the moment the ten days of unstoppable plundering was passed down, Taiyuan, for Zong Han and Zong Wang, was nothing more than a tool to ease the morale of the army. The bottom line of the Wu dynasty had already been investigated and Taiyuan had been destroyed. When they returned in the future, they would no longer have to worry about not having enough slaves.
After ten days of slaughter, less than a tenth of the original residents of Taiyuan remained. However, there were still over ten thousand people who, after experiencing inhumane torture and abuse, were driven north. Most of these people were women. The young and beautiful had already suffered a great deal of humiliation in the city. Those with slightly weaker physiques had already died. Those who managed to survive were either driven away by the soldiers or tied to the cattle and sheep carriages heading north. Along the way, they suffered the wanton torture of the Female Daoists. Each day, there would be corpses that would be tossed onto the road.
Even those who were lucky enough to make it through Yanmen Pass would only have endless torture and humiliation waiting for them. Most of them would die within the next year. After leaving Yanmen Pass, there were almost none who would be able to return to the land of the Wu dynasty.
The rain was still falling.
In the south, more than a hundred miles away from Taiyuan, there was a small town called Tong Fu. The sky was dark and gloomy amidst the light rain.
The arrival of the Venerable Woman plundered a large number of towns in the vicinity of Taiyuan. Only when she reached Tongfu Town did the intensity slightly decrease. When the heavy snow sealed the mountains, the residents of the small town hid in the city and spent the winter shivering. At this time, the weather had turned warm, but there were still no merchants traveling north or south. Because the residents of the town still had to go out to farm, cut firewood, and harvest some spring fruits to satisfy their hunger, half of the town was carefully opened up, and the soldiers nervously guarded the few people who came and went.
She was afraid that they would not be satisfied after massacring Taiyuan and would come back again. Then, the people would really be plunged into misery and suffering.
In the drizzle, the soldiers guarding the city saw a few townspeople rushing over from outside the city, covering their mouths and noses as if they were hiding from something. The soldiers were startled and almost closed the gate. When the townspeople came closer, they heard them say, "There's … a weirdo over there …"
"I don't know who he is, but I'm afraid he's a hero from the underworld …"
"It stinks … I'm carrying a corpse …"
Carrying a corpse on a rainy day? This must be a lunatic. The soldier's heart trembled, but because it was only one person, he was slightly relieved. He picked up his spear and waited there. After a while, a figure indeed came out of the rain.
The figure was riding a horse, and his pace was not fast. The man on the horse was wearing a black cloak, and his clothes were tattered. It was obvious that he was injured. He held a stick in his hand, and on his back was a large black bag with unknown contents. He sniffed carefully. Even in the drizzle, there was a faint stench in the air. He could not see the person's appearance clearly, but he faintly felt that he was like a ghost. He gathered his courage and spoke.
"Who are you, and where did you come from!"
"I'm from the underworld, from Taiyuan." The figure on the horse swayed slightly. Just now, he saw him cup his hands and say these words.
"Taiyuan?" The soldier was shocked. "Taiyuan has long fallen. Are, are you a spy of the Venerable Woman? What, what's behind you …"
"I'm not a spy … The Venerable Woman army has already retreated from Taiyuan City. I, I'm escorting something over …"
"What … Wait, don't go forward!"
"Human heads." The man replied weakly. Hearing the soldier's shout, he stopped the steps of the thin horse and dismounted from it. He stood there with the black bag on his back. He was actually a head taller than the soldier and was rather tall and sturdy. However, his clothes were tattered, as if they had been injured by a sharp weapon. His body was also wrapped in filthy bandages.
At this time, many people poked their heads out to look at him. When they heard him say the word "human heads," they were all shocked. They were at the edge of the area where the Venerable Woman could come at any time and had long since been alarmed. Then, they saw the man slowly put down the bag.
"When the Venerable Woman massacred Taiyuan, it was hung at the head of the city gate. When the Venerable Woman army retreated to the north, I went to fetch it and went south. However, although there were not many Venerable Woman left near Taiyuan, I was still discovered by a few people. I killed my way here … "
His body was weak, and he was only explaining his injuries. However, when these words were said, the crowd was in an uproar. Everyone looked into the distance, and the soldier tightened his grip on his spear, forcing the black-clothed man to take a step back. He paused slightly and gently put down the bag.
"The Venerable Woman scouts have long been killed by me. If you're afraid, I won't enter the city, but these people …"
He put down the stick and knelt on the ground. He opened the bag in front of him and stretched out his hand. He picked up an object that was not only covered in mucus but also indistinguishable from filth. He slowly placed it in front of the city gate, and then picked up another one and gently put it down.
These people had long been killed. Their heads were hung at the gate of Taiyuan, exposed to the wind and sun, and had long since begun to rot. His black bag had been slightly isolated. When it was opened, the stench was indescribable. However, the sinister human heads placed there seemed to have an intimidating magical power. The soldier took a step back and looked at this scene in bewilderment.
"… These people are all loyal and righteous people who died for the defense of Taiyuan. My injuries are not light and I cannot send them off again. I will have to trouble everyone. Loyal and hot-blooded, but I hope that they will not become … wild ghosts and lonely souls. "
When the person finished speaking, he finally stood up and cupped his fists. Then he took a few steps, mounted his horse, and left.
In front of Tongfu Town, there was a flash of spring thunder. There were a total of seven human heads placed there. The long period of decay had caused the skin and flesh on their faces to rot. Most of their eyes had also disappeared. No one could recognize who was who. What was left were only empty and horrifying eye sockets. They faced the city gate and only looked towards the south.
After a long time, someone received an order from a superior to go out of the city to find the righteous people who had sent the heads.
*****
It was a cloudy day in the military camp outside Bianliang.
In a place in the camp, hundreds of soldiers were practicing martial arts. Saber light slashed out in unison. Accompanying this fierce saber light was a rather unusual song.
"… Smoke rises, the country looks north! Dragon banners roll, horses neighing, sword energy like frost! My heart is like the Yellow River, boundless! In twenty years, who can resist … "
"… Hatred is crazy, where the long saber points …"
In this unusual song, Ning Yi stood in front of the wooden platform and watched the practice calmly. Around the practice field, many soldiers also gathered around, and everyone was singing along with the song. Ning Yi hadn't been here for a long time, and everyone was quite excited.
He didn't expect that such a song would spread in the military camp. Moreover, he felt quite complicated listening to it at this time.
When they were in Xia Village, they had considered finding a few generous military songs. This was Ning Yi's suggestion, and then they chose this one. But naturally, this kind of casual singing was a bit niche at the moment. He only let some people around him listen to it, and then it spread to the high-ranking officers. He didn't expect that this relatively popular song would spread in the military camp.
Everyone sang while brandishing their sabers. When the song finished, all the teams stopped in unison and looked at Ning Yi. Ning Yi also looked at them quietly. After a while, a junior colonel in the line of onlookers couldn't help but raise his hand and say, "Report! Mister Ning, I have something to ask! "
Ning Yi glanced at him and thought for a moment. "Ask."
"Mister, was General Qin framed by a treacherous official and can't come back!?"
When he asked this, the crowd of soldiers buzzed. Seeing that Ning Yi didn't answer, someone else gathered his courage and said, "Mister Ning, we can't go to Taiyuan. Is there someone in the capital who is obstructing us?"
Then someone said, "It must be that bastard Cai Jing …"
No one dared to answer. Everyone just looked at that person, and then said, "Mister Ning, if there are any difficulties, just say it!"
"Yes, although we are lowly, we also want to know …"
"We swear to die together with the treacherous people …"
The mood in the military camp was turbulent. During this period of time, although the Wu Rui Camp was ordered to drill in the camp every day and not go out, the high-ranking, middle-ranking, and even low-ranking officers were all holding private meetings to discuss the news in the capital. At this time, although the high-ranking officers felt that it was inappropriate, they stood proudly and didn't care too much. Ning Yi stood there in silence for a very, very long time. Everyone stopped asking questions, and the atmosphere also became oppressive. At this time, Ning Yi waved his hand to call someone over and gave him a piece of paper.
"This is … the news from Taiyuan City. Go read it, read it to everyone."
The people of the capital already knew that Taiyuan City had fallen and then been massacred. Of course, the people in the military camp also knew. The person was slightly startled. Then he stood there, lowered his head, and began to read loudly.
"February 25th, Taiyuan City fell. Zong Han ordered that no sabers would be allowed in Taiyuan City for ten days. After that, an inhumane massacre began. The Female Zhenren closed all four city gates, and from all sides …"
The information from the Office of Secret Investigations was more detailed than ordinary reports. It more or less recorded the order of the massacre in Taiyuan City, the various killings that could be recorded. The people who died, the women who were raped, the slaves who were driven north like pigs, dogs, cows, and sheep, and the scene after the massacre were all recorded as calmly and coldly as possible. Everyone stood there, their scalps tingling as they listened. Some people were already gritting their teeth.
"How does the song go?" Ning Yi suddenly interjected. "Smoke rises, rivers and mountains look north! Dragon banners swirl, horses neigh, sword qi like frost! Heart like the boundless Yellow River! Heh, after twenty years of roaming, who can resist … Sing! "
Everyone was stunned. Ning Yi suddenly roared, "Sing!" The soldiers here were all well-trained, so they began to sing, "Smoke rises!" However, the tone was clearly much lower, and when it reached the part where they sang 'Twenty Years Running Unhindered', their voices became even lower. Ning Yi pressed down with his palm. "Stop."
He took a breath, turned, and walked to the wooden platform in the back where the officers were waiting for their inspection. He wiped his nose and mouth. "This song is not standard. When I first said I wanted to use it, I actually didn't like it, but I didn't expect you to like it. That's also a good thing. But military songs need a military soul, and they also need to be reasonable. After twenty years of roaming, who can resist … Heh, right now, only hatred and madness is worthy of you. But I hope you will remember this feeling. I hope that after twenty years, you will all be able to sing this song with dignity. "
Ning Yi paused. "As for General Qin, he won't be coming back for now. Someone else will take over. I also have to go back. Recently, I've seen the news from Taiyuan, and I'm not happy. But seeing you today, I'm very happy."
His gaze swept across the people in front of him, and then he walked away. The crowd was instantly in an uproar. An officer next to Ning Yi shouted, "All at attention …" The soldiers all stood up in fear. However, as Ning Yi walked forward, more people gathered around him, as if they wanted to block his way.
Someone shouted, "Is there a treacherous official in the court?" Someone shouted, "A treacherous official is in charge, His Majesty can't be unaware!" "Mister Ning, you can't leave us behind!" "Call General Qin back …" "Kill whoever obstructs us …" The voices came mightily. Ning Yi stopped and suddenly shouted, "Enough …"
The voice came out with internal energy, and the surroundings gradually calmed down.
"I have my matters, you have your matters. Now, I'll go do mine, you do yours, "he said. "That's the right thing to do. Don't act like a little girl here, get out of my way!"
In the camp, the crowd slowly moved aside. When he walked to the edge of the camp and saw the orderly troops and the woman on the side, he nodded slightly at her.
Hong Ti also nodded.
The sky was overcast, and rain was about to fall.
As the news of the Perfected Woman's departure from Taiyuan and return to the north was confirmed, great changes finally began in Bianliang.
The next day, Tan Zhen's Martial Zhuangyuan, Luo Shengzhou, officially took over Qin Shaoqian's position and was transferred to the Victorious Martial Army. This was a small matter that no one knew about. On the same day, Emperor Zhou Zhe issued an imperial edict to the world, and at the same time ordered a strict investigation and purge of the current system of officials. The people of the capital were excited.
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