The sun was about to set. On the western horizon, on the other side of the mountain, there was the last light.
Near the small village, the river meandered through. The spring flood had not stopped, and the water in the river rose sharply. In the distant fields, the road meandered through. Military horses walked on the road, and farmers carried hoes across the road to go home.
Summer was coming, and the humidity in the air faded a little, making people feel comfortable both physically and mentally. It was a peaceful evening in the southwest.
Ning Yi stood by the river, looking at everything in the distance. After the sun set, there was a little light in the distance. At some point, someone came over with a lantern. It was the tall figure of a woman. It was Yunzhu.
She stood ten feet away from Ning Yi for a moment, and then came closer. "Young Ke told me that father was crying …"
Ning Yi took her hand and smiled. "… No."
"The situation at the front is not good?"
"Yes, Zhu Biao … something happened."
"Zhu Biao, he …" Yunzhu's eyes trembled. She could feel the weight of this matter.
Ning Yi shook his head and looked into the distance in the night.
"I don't know …" he murmured, and then said, "I don't know."
"Since you don't know, then …"
"The 17th Army … didn't come out, and suffered heavy losses. It was almost … wiped out. I'm just thinking, is it worth it … "
His calm tone scattered in the air at the end of spring and the beginning of summer …
*****
In the north, the Daimyo's residence had become a deserted ruin.
After the war, the inhumane massacre had also ended. The corpses that had been thrown here and the mass graves began to emit a foul smell. The army gradually withdrew from here, but within a hundred miles around the Daimyo's residence, the search continued.
As for the 15th of April, the last retreating army escorted a batch of prisoners to different places on the north bank of the Yellow River.
Since late April, the residents of Hebei East Road, Jingdong East Road, and other large cities that were originally ruled by Li Xizhi were alarmed by the scenes of killing. Since last year, the bandits who despised the power of the Jin Dynasty and rebelled against the Daimyo's residence had all been killed or captured. Even the Black Flag Bandit Army that came to rescue them had been wiped out by Wanyan Chang. Thousands of prisoners were divided into groups of death row prisoners and transported to various cities to be beheaded.
It was April, and the summer rain had already begun to fall. Inside the prison cart were bodies that were barely recognizable as human. The captives who were unwilling to surrender to the Jurchens, or those who were useless or disabled, had already been severely tortured. Many of them were already seriously injured on the battlefield. Wanyan Chang ordered the doctors to keep them alive, to make them suffer, but not to let them die. This was to serve as a warning to others for resisting the Jin.
The Eastern Army had already pushed to Xuzhou, and the process of taking over the Central Plains had already begun. In order to push forward with the war, the harsh taxes and killings by the officials had already continued for half a year. Some resisted, but most died under the butcher's knife. Now, the Guangwu Army, who had put up the fiercest resistance, and the Black Flag Army, who were the only ones able to resist the Jurchens, had finally been destroyed in front of everyone.
In Luozhou, when the convoy carrying the prisoners entered the city, the people on both sides of the road were confused and confused, but a few who knew the situation shed tears on the side of the street. Those who cried were dragged out by the Jurchen soldiers and killed on the spot on the street.
It was drizzling in Shenzhou City. A prisoner rescue attack suddenly broke out. These prisoners were dressed in rags. Some were people from the pugilistic world, some were ordinary civilians, and there was even a group of monks among them. Because Wanyan Chang had conducted a large-scale raid after taking over Li Xizhi's territory, these people were not equipped with weapons. A large man with a thin face held a long sharpened bamboo pole and stabbed two soldiers to death in a fierce battle. Then, he was cut down by several knives and fell to the ground. In the midst of the fighting around him, this large man, who was covered in blood and had his stomach cut open, stood up with the prisoner in his arms and shouted in the midst of the battle.
"I'm also a Huaxia soldier! I'm also a Huaxia soldier! I … shouldn't have left the southwest. I … will die with you … "
His last words were probably directed at the prisoners in the prisoner carts. In front of him, a Huaxia soldier had lost both his hands and his tongue. He groaned a few times and tried to stretch out his severed arm.
The soldiers who rushed over had already raised their steel knives on the man's back …
In Hejian Prefecture, when the beheading began, it was already raining cats and dogs. Outside the execution ground, people stood in a dense mass and watched as the steel knives fell one by one. Some people were crying silently in the rain. In such a heavy rain, at least they didn't have to worry about others seeing their tears …
On the 28th day of the third month in the 10th year of Wujianshuo, outside the daimyo's mansion, the Huaxia army's rescue of the Guangwu army officially began. Even though Wanyan Chang was already prepared, the Huaxia army still split into two groups and launched a surprise attack on the battlefield. An hour after realizing the chaos, the Guangwu army's breakout also officially began.
The desperate attack of the desperate soldiers immediately put the 200,000 puppet troops in the inner circle of the battlefield under great pressure. In the streets and alleys of the Daimyo Prefecture City, the desperate fighting of tens of thousands of Guangwu soldiers made the puppet troops unable to retreat. The number of deaths caused by their trampling was several times that of the confrontation at the front line. Soon after the battle began, Zhu Biao led 4,000 troops and 3,000 troops left on the periphery to launch the fiercest surprise attack on Wanyan Chang.
Wanyan Chang faced the attack calmly. He used more than 10,000 elite troops under his command to deal with the attack of Zhu Biao and the others, and used more than 10,000 troops and thousands of cavalrymen to block all the enemies who wanted to leave the daimyo's mansion. During the attack, Zhu Biao made several false moves to break out of the encirclement and then counterattacked, but Wanyan Chang never fell for it.
Even though the 200,000 puppet troops were defeated like a tide at the frontline, the endless fresh troops were still like a huge swamp, holding everyone back and making it difficult for them to escape. And the thousands of cavalrymen led by Wanyan Chang held the greatest initiative on the battlefield. Every time they launched a surprise attack on the periphery, they could cause huge casualties to the breakout troops.
During this period, the instigating team led by Yan Qing was still active on the battlefield. They persuaded several puppet troops to go easy on them in private, or to plead or threaten them. Later, they also got some puppet troops to turn a blind eye. Even the constant spread of the news that Wanyan Chang was dead caused a lot of chaos on the battlefield.
But all of this was still unable to make up for the insignificant difference in strength on the cruel scale of the war.
From the night of the 28th to the early morning of the 29th, the entire huge battlefield was fiercely torn apart in the fierce battle between the Huaxia army and the Guangwu army. Zhu Biao's troops headed east and Wang Shanyue's troops headed south attracted the fiercest firepower. The reserve cadre troops entered the battlefield that night to boost morale and kill until there was no one left. By the time the sun rose on the 29th, the entire battlefield had been torn apart and spread for dozens of miles. The attackers paid a huge price to step into the surrounding mountains and forests.
By this time, a large number of soldiers had been captured because of serious injuries or because they had lost their courage. The entire battle did not stop because of this. Wanyan Chang sat in the center and organized a large-scale pursuit and manhunt. At the same time, he continued to order and mobilize troops to the surrounding cities controlled by the Jurchen, forming a huge encirclement network.
On the 30th of the 3rd month and the 1st of the 4th month … Battles of all sizes broke out in the dense forests, swamps, and mountains near the Daimyo's residences. The entire encirclement network and manhunt continued until the middle of the 4th month. Only then did Wanyan Chang announce the end of the battle.
In a short period of time, not many people knew how many soldiers and generals of the Huaxia army and the Guangwu army had been sacrificed in this extremely tragic surprise attack and breakout. More than four thousand people were captured, including the wounded. Most of them were transported by Wanyan Chang to various cities within two months of being tortured and slaughtered.
There was also a part of the information that could be confirmed. In the early morning of the 29th, during the surprise attack and the encirclement process, a group of Huaxia soldiers was deeply surrounded. A general wielding two whips led the troops in a continuous charge. Every time he swung his steel whip, an enemy's head would be smashed open. This general was constantly fighting. His whole body was stained with blood, and he looked like a god of war. However, as the battle continued, the number of soldiers by his side decreased. In the end, the general exhausted his last bit of strength and shed his last drop of blood in the endless encirclement.
This was a hero who, although he had once belonged to Liangshan, had finally returned to the right path. He was "Double Whips" Huyan Zhuo.
On the morning of the 29th, "Golden Gunner" Xu Ning died at the edge of the forest near the Daimyo's residences while blocking the Jurchen cavalry and covering the retreat of his allies.
Nie Shan, the commander of the Huaxia army, led hundreds of suicide squads to counterattack Wanyan Chang's original formation. These hundreds of people were like steel knives that constantly broke through, causing the defending Jurchen generals to tremble in fear. They also attracted the attention of many troops on the battlefield. In the end, these hundreds of people were completely wiped out. Not a single one of them surrendered. Before Nie Shan died, there was not a single part of his body that was unharmed. He was bathed in blood as he walked the path of hardship and fought for a slim chance of survival for his allies behind him.
More than fifty percent of the people who broke through were left on the battlefield on the first night. This number continued to increase afterwards. In the middle of the fourth month, Wanyan Chang announced the preliminary end of the entire battle. Almost all of the Huaxia army and the Guangwu army had been broken up. Although there would be some people who survived the huge net, the two armies would be annihilated within a certain period of time …
In the Adept's message, Zhu Biao, Guan Sheng, Wang Shanyue … and many other generals were all rumored to be dead, their heads hanging high.
*****
The carriage slowly moved through the night.
"Sometimes I think that we might have chosen the wrong color flag …"
"Didn't Husband say that black is the most resolute?"
"But after every battle, it has been dyed red."
The carriage quietly stopped by the side of the road. Not far away was the entrance of the village. Ning Yi held Yun Zhu's hand as they alighted. Yun Zhu looked around, a little confused.
"Many times, I wonder if it's worth it … Heroic words. I used to say them in a big way, but the more I see them, the more I feel that they have a weight that makes it hard for me to breathe. Zhu Biao … Wang Shanyue … Tian Shi … and many more people who have already died. Maybe everyone is just pursuing a cycle of three hundred years. Maybe it's already very good. Maybe … the dead just want to live, and they are all people who deserve to live … "
In the darkness, Ning Yi's words were calm and slow, like a murmur. He held Yun Zhu's hand as they walked through the small path of the nameless village. When they passed by a dark stream, he even picked up Yun Zhu and accurately stepped on every stone as he walked. This was enough to show that this was not his first time here. Du Sha silently followed behind.
Yunzhu did not reply to Ning Yi's words. She knew that Ning Yi's murmur did not need to be answered. She just followed her husband, hand in hand, as they walked slowly through the village. Not far away, there were a few mud houses with lights on. They approached in the darkness, gently stepped on the stairs, and walked to the top of a mud house. The tiles of this mud house were already broken, and they could see the night sky from the top. Ning Yi pulled her to sit by the mud wall. On the other side of the wall, the houses below were brightly lit. Some people were talking. These people were talking about the "Four Citizens", and some things about the three counties of Hedeng.
Ning Yi sat there quietly. He gestured to Yunzhu with his fingers, and then he shushed her silently. Then the husband and wife quietly leaned against each other, looking at the sky through the broken tiles.
"Innovation and enlightenment … the process of thousands of years, the so-called freedom … Actually, not many people care about it … Humans are such strange things. What we want is always just a little bit more than what we are now, a little bit better. Humans can't understand more than a hundred years of history … If the slaves are a little bit better, they will feel like they have ascended to heaven … If the brains are a little better, they will still not be satisfied …"
His words came out softly from his throat, and there was a slight sigh in it. Yunzhu listened, and also listened to the words and discussions in the other house. But in fact, there was nothing strange on the other side. In the three counties of Hedeng, many people would gather at night to discuss some new ideas and opinions. Many of these people were probably Ning Yi's students.
"… Innovation, freedom, heh, it's just like how most people train their bodies. When their bodies are weak, they will train. When they are healthy, they will forget everything. It's a cycle of thousands of years … When people eat, they will feel that they have reached the limit. As for reading more books, why … How many people can understand it? Too few … "
Ning Yi continued to speak, but it was just a sigh, a slight sigh. Yunzhu listened, but she also knew that her husband was not confused by the things that he had said. At this time, the other person in the room had already spoken. At a certain moment, Yunzhu heard that person say,
"… The matter of our Huaxia army has already explained a principle. Everyone in the world is the same! Why are those farmers inferior to others? Why are the landlords high and mighty? When they give something, they say that they are kind and benevolent families. Why are they kind and benevolent? They have more things than others. Their children can go to school, they can take the exam and become officials. Farmers will always be farmers! When a farmer's son is born, when he opens his eyes, he will see the world of inferiority. This is innately unfair! Mr. Ning has explained a lot of things, but I feel that Mr. Ning's words are not thorough enough … "
"… Because Mister Ning's family is a merchant. Although he married into the family, his family is very rich. As far as I know, Mister Ning eats well and wears well. He is very particular about his food and clothing … I'm not saying bad things about Mister Ning here. I'm just saying, is it because of this that Mister Ning didn't clearly say that everyone is equal?
"… Look at those farmers, especially those who don't even have fields. They live the most miserable and arduous days and get the least. This is not fair … We have to think about this. Many of Mr. Ning's words are not wrong, but what can be more right? What is more right? In this world, everyone is equal. We even killed the emperor. We should have the most equal world. We should let everyone know that they are no different from others! If our Huaxia army wants to succeed, we have to share the rich and the poor! Equality … "
Many of these words were used by Ning Yi before, but the meaning was quite radical now that he said it. It was noisy below. Yunzhu was dazed for a moment because beside her, Ning Yi's words had also stopped. She tilted her head and looked over. Her husband was leaning against the mud wall with a quiet and mysterious smile on his face. It was as if he had seen something indescribable, but it also seemed like there was some bitterness and sadness in it. It was an extremely complicated smile.
"… Sometimes I think, is it worth it … or not …"
He murmured in a low voice and did not continue speaking. The noise from the room next door continued. Ning Yi and Yunzhu looked over. There were billions of stars spinning in the night sky. The vast and boundless Milky Way was cast into the small hole in the roof tiles …
Outside the roof was a vast land. Countless creatures were currently colliding with one another.
*****
Wu Jianshuo 10th year, March 27th.
The Huaxia army rushing to the Daimyo's residence took a long detour. In the evening, Zhu Biao stood at the top of the hill and looked in the direction. The troops with fluttering flags took a detour under the road.
Guan Sheng came up from below. "What are you looking at?"
Zhu Biao looked into the distance, his eyes hesitating. After a while, he stopped looking at the map and said, "I'm thinking if there is a better way."
"You've thought of it?"
"… No."
"You pig head, I thought you wouldn't have thought of it. Heh, but then again, you're the City Burning Spear, Zhu Biao. You're a fearless person, but you're being sentimental today. "
"… I don't want to run into a turtle like Wanyan Chang."
"…" Guan Sheng was silent for a moment. "I don't want to either."
Zhu Biao smiled. "So I'm thinking, if the Ning guy was here, would he be able to think of a better way to defeat Wanyan Chang and save Wang Shanyue? After all, that guy … other than being bad at picking up girls, he's really smart."
"I only know that the Ning guy will save Wang Shanyue."
"Yeah …"
The two stood there and looked into the distance for a moment. Guan Sheng said, "Have you thought of anything?"
"No."
"Then let's go."
Of the two figures, one smiled and the other nodded. Then, they disappeared into the surging torrent.
…
Above the ruins, there were still broken flags fluttering, blood and black mixed together.
…
May. Wei Sheng fell.
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