In the middle of May, to the north of the Yellow River, sunny and rainy days alternated. The atmosphere in the cities on the ground was gloomy and somber.
Compared to the Central Plains ten years ago, there were not many people still living on this land. A large number of villages and lands were almost deserted. Houses made of mud bricks or thatch had collapsed and rotted under the alternating heat and rain. Fleeing people staggered along the roads that had fallen into disrepair, and there were starved and emaciated corpses on the sides of the road.
Like refugees, the army was mobilized from city to city. In large areas along East Jingdong Road and East Hebei Road, over two hundred thousand troops had begun to gather near Mount Liangshan, forming a huge encirclement and blockade.
The aftermath of the battle of the Daimyo Residences had yet to fade, but a new battle was already brewing.
Of course, compared to the watertight attack on the Daimyo Residences led by Wanyan Chang, the siege of Mount Liangshan by the hundreds of thousands of troops was slightly more chaotic and disorderly. Back then, Wanyan Chang had commanded thirty thousand elites to oversee the battle. When the Guangwu Army and the Huaxia Army risked their lives to break out of the encirclement, although Wanyan Chang calmly dealt with them, the entire army still suffered heavy casualties under the relentless attacks of the Guangwu Army and the Huaxia Army.
Now, the Jurchen army of less than twenty thousand soldiers needed to suppress a quarter of the Central Plains. There were not many people who could be sent to supervise the siege of Mount Liangshan. Moreover, the mobilization and gathering of two hundred thousand soldiers was a huge burden for the Han army, which was already short on military resources. After arriving near Mount Liangshan, these troops either fished or plundered. Apart from making life difficult for the people around them, they were unable to play any real role in sealing off the entire defensive line.
In this situation, Wanyan Chang had already done his best. He slowly mobilized the ships, and his goal of launching an attack on all of Mount Liangshan would already be achieved. No matter how passive the Han army was, the more than two hundred thousand soldiers charging at the tens of thousands of old, weak, women, and children on the island would cut off the last hope of survival for the Huaxia Army and the Guangwu Army. On his side, although he could kill or replace the new Han generals at will, there was not much meaning in killing and replacing them now that there were not enough Jurchen troops to supervise the battle.
It was said that a small number of soldiers were also sneaking back to Liangshan. That would be a good chance to catch all of them at once.
If two hundred thousand men could still lose against several tens of thousands of old, weak, women and children, then he would just replace them with another batch and continue the fight. In any case, the conscription in this area would always consume the vitality of the Han people of the Central Plains, so Wanyan Chang did not care how many people he had to send.
On the twelfth day of the fifth month, the weather gradually turned from cloudy to sunny. Beside a reed marsh on the south bank of the Liangshan Marsh, a convoy of carriages came along the rugged road. The one riding at the front of the fleet was an ordinary looking general with half white hair and beard. Even though his figure looked quite sturdy, even though he was wearing a general uniform, he still didn't seem to have any toughness to him. When the convoy arrived at the water's edge, a man beside the general took a few quick steps forward and whistled. Several small boats sailed over from the reeds.
The man who was whistling was of medium build and looked very inconspicuous. He was the disguised "prodigal son" Yan Qing. Seeing the boats coming over, a woman in black clothes with long hair in the carriage behind lifted the curtain and came out. It was Li Shishi, although she was already in her thirties, her temperament was steady but increasingly clear.
Since childhood, she had a discerning eye and a Buddha-like heart, so she could see many things clearly. Over the years, although she was worried about the world and ran around, her mind became clearer and clearer. This also caused her figure and appearance to still be as beautiful as a young girl, but her eyes were clear after seeing through the affairs of the world. Being virtuous like water, she, who was in her thirties, was more like a crystal.
The old general on the horse looked over and didn't blink for a long time until Yan Qing came back and cupped his hands to him. "General Huang, I apologize for offending you earlier." The general named Huang Guangde sighed. "It's okay, it's okay. Let's go. We won't know each other in the future." There was some regret in his tone, but also some open-mindedness.
Shishi also came over. "Mr. Huang, thank you."
"Alas, forget it, forget it …" Huang Guangde waved his hand repeatedly. "I'm sorry to bother you. From now on, it's better not to see me."
"From now on, we don't know each other, General Huang." A few figures came out from the carriage behind. The person in the lead said this. This person's head was wrapped in gauze, but a hideous knife scar could still be seen between his eyes. His skin was torn and his flesh was exposed. It was a horrifying sight. Huang Guangde glanced at him and then turned away. He said in disdain, "That's a big help."
"However, we'll fight our own battles in the future. If we meet on the battlefield, please take care of yourself, General Huang. Of course, if there's anything you need help with, cough cough … I won't refuse. " Although the person who spoke had his head wrapped in gauze, his appearance and bearing were dignified. He coughed twice as he spoke, indicating that his injuries were still there. Beside him was a tall woman dressed in men's clothing. She had a murderous look on her face, but her left hand was broken. From her appearance, it could be seen that this woman was Hu Sanniang.
Behind them, there were more than ten men who were either injured or disabled. However, even though many of them were injured, they still exuded a shocking murderous aura. These soldiers who had returned from the Shuraba boarded the ship not long after.
Li Shishi and Huang Guangde chatted for a while. Huang Guangde remained on his horse and did not dismount. Shishi also saluted and boarded the ship. When the ship set off, Yan Qing remained on the shore and spoke a few words with Huang Guangde.
On the night when the Daimyo Residence broke out of the siege, Yan Qing worked in the rear, but the danger was no less than the front line. Fortunately, he was highly skilled in martial arts and was among the first to escape. After that, he contacted Lu Junyi and the others who were recuperating in the rear and began to rescue his companions. A few days ago, Miss Shishi spread the news that she was preparing to marry Huang Guangde as a concubine. She also said that she had saved some people. Yan Qing understood that there was something fishy about it. Two days ago, he secretly followed Huang Guangde and prepared to act against him.
Unexpectedly, when he was really about to act, he realized that Huang Guangde did not have much precaution. He led Yan Qing to see the hidden Li Shishi. Only then did he realize that there were some wounded soldiers from the Guangwu Army and the Hua Xia Army hidden in the garden where Li Shishi was. Among them, the most surprising thing was to see Wang Shanyue and Hu Sanniang.
The husband and wife were not dead. For the two rebel armies, it was a great surprise. At this time, Huang Guangde actually hid the Wang couple. One could imagine the risk he was taking. Yan Qing knew that he could not act against Huang Guangde anymore. Shishi might have to die with him. Unexpectedly, after chatting with Huang Guangde for a while, he realized that Huang Guangde wanted to quickly send Li Shishi, Wang Shanyue, and the others away. He was already taking a great risk by hiding these people. If he hid Li Shishi in the outer residence, she could die at any time in the future.
Although Huang Guangde said this, at this time, Li Shishi boarded the ship. The old man on the horse watched the figure go away for a long time. Yan Qing knew that this person really had feelings for Li Shishi.
"Since General Huang is so reluctant, why not lead the army to Liangshan?" When Yan Qing said this, he secretly cursed himself for talking too much. Fortunately, Huang Guangde only glanced at him.
"Isn't going to Liangshan with you courting death? How many days can you live? "
Yan Qing lowered his head and touched his nose. He did not try to persuade him anymore.
At this time, the sun shone on the surface of the lake. The reeds far and near swayed. Shishi stood up from the ship and bowed in this direction. Huang Guangde looked at this figure and raised his hand slightly to wave.
The prosperity of Bianliang more than ten years ago was still in front of him. At that time, he passed all the examinations and traveled to the capital. Although it was not smooth to fill the gap, the days and nights in Fanlou were still the brightest and most beautiful memories in his heart.
The Female Zhenren came, Bianliang fell, and the Central Plains became more and more dilapidated day by day. The old cities, collapsed houses, and piles of bones by the roadside were the current situation that he saw. If he was not careful, it would be his tomorrow.
After more than ten years, Li Shishi still carried the feeling of the best time of the Wu Dynasty. Huang Guangde's heart was immersed in this. On one hand, he rejected Li Shishi, on the other hand, he unfirmly extended his hand on the battlefield. After saving people, he was worried in his heart when things would happen. The Female Zhenren was murderous. When Han officials came, they would not stand on ceremony. And the longer it dragged on, even the people around him might not be reliable anymore.
It was also because of this that he did not dare to touch Li Shishi. Not to mention the rumor that this woman belonged to the inner demon Ning Yi, if he really married her as a concubine, he felt that he would be courting death by helping the Hua Xia army and the Guangwu army now.
On the edge of the swaying reeds, General Huang Guangde, who was in his fifties, looked at that figure for a long time until it disappeared in the distant reeds and sunlight. It was as if he was reminiscing about the past that had been with him for more than ten years. Looking back, he would have to face the same tragic future as everyone else.
Yan Qing sighed and went in another direction. Although for vicious and merciless people, the Hua Xia army could still use this secret to threaten General Huang, in the current situation, he had already done enough. The Hua Xia army could only remember this kind of gratitude in their hearts.
After days of heavy rain, the lake swelled and overflowed. On another shore in the distance, beyond the limits of their vision, some figures pushed off the wooden rafts they had built and began to pass through the waterway, heading in the direction of Liangshan.
On this side of the river, the small fleet also sailed towards Liangshan. At the end of the small boat, Li Shishi sat on her knees and looked back in the direction she had come from. Over the past few days, she had been prepared to sacrifice her body, but Huang Guangde's choice made her sigh.
Towards Huang Guangde, other than gratitude, she naturally did not have any other feelings. At this time, while feeling emotional, she also let out a small sigh of relief. Beside her, Hu Sanniang came over and asked her about love affairs, "Do you really like that Ning guy? He's not a good person … Also, if you like him, you can go to the southwest. "
Shishi pulled on Hu Sanniang's sleeve and only smiled. Did she like Ning Yi? In the past, she naturally did, but now that she was at this age and had seen too many things, the line between yes and no had become quite blurred. The world was in chaos, and too many people had died in front of her eyes. She wanted to do something, but she was just a weak girl without the strength to truss a chicken. She begged everywhere and even knelt to people. If she really had to marry someone in exchange for the lives of even more people, Shishi felt that … she actually did not mind.
But looking back, if she really liked him — of course, she liked him. That was a very, very faint liking. When she was preparing to marry Huang Guangde, she had specially begged the Huaxia army's intelligence personnel here to send a letter to the southwest. Now that her heart had calmed down, she could quietly think about how Ning Yi, who was in the southwest, would feel when he received this news.
Just thinking about it made her feel that it was very interesting.
The fleet sailed for a while, and in the distance, another row of rafts appeared. From afar, they gave a secret signal. It seemed like they were on the same side. When they had sailed to the end, Shishi suddenly stood up. She suddenly realized that on the opposite raft, other than the members of the Guangwu Army and the Hua Xia army, there were also Zhu Biao and Lu Junyi.
Although there were winds and waves in the 800 miles of Liangshan Lake, usually even small boats could cross it. Although it was a small raft, Zhu Biao stood on it with his body wrapped in bandages, but he still looked very spirited. At the bow of the small boat, Wang Shanyue, whose entire head was wrapped up, said in a clear voice, "A few days ago, there was an expert at the new workshop who broke out a prisoner. Was it the two of you?"
"Of course. Your City Burning Spear Brother Biao has been invincible in the world for a long time. How could a few stray dogs and cats stop me … uh, and the cooperation of this Lackey Lu — huh? This bun head, what kind of monster are you!? "
Although Wang Shanyue was injured and had his head wrapped up, his voice did not change. Zhu Biao's loud voice was obviously a tease, and Shishi was already laughing out loud at the stern of the boat. On the other side, Wang Shanyue snorted arrogantly, and stretched out his hand to untie the bandage on his head.
When the bandage was untied, Wang Shanyue's face, which had originally looked as beautiful as a woman, had a knife scar cut down. At this moment, the skin and flesh were still split open and had not healed, making for a hideous sight. Wang Shanyue said, "I'm a little injured." There was a hint of pride in his tone. When the people on the raft saw this, they were originally sad, but now they laughed again. In fact, Wang Shanyue had been troubled by his feminine appearance since he was young. Now that he had been disfigured by a knife, not only was he not sad, but he was also quite satisfied with his hideous knife scar.
Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment, then he held his stomach and laughed, unable to close his mouth, "Hahahaha, to think that you would have such a day …" As he laughed, the rest of the people followed suit, including Wang Shanyue and the people on the boat.
Zhu Biao and the others did not care about Hu Sanniang's missing arm, and said while laughing, "In the future, you can learn knife skills from Du Sha. He became so powerful because he lost an arm."
After a while, he said, "In the future, when you and your wife walk the forest, you can give yourself the nickname 'Tian Can Di Que', hahahaha —"
Amidst this unscrupulous teasing, all kinds of laughter sounded on the water. If one did not know the inside story, they would think that they had returned after a great victory.
The fleet kept moving forward, and after a while, a large boat sailed over the lake, and everyone boarded it. From afar, Mount Liang came into view. On the island, a row of huge spirit summoning flags fluttered in the wind, and there were traces of paper money on the water. When Zhu Biao and Wang Shanyue stood at the bow of the boat, Zhu Biao glanced at Wang Shanyue and pushed her away. He stood at the bow of the boat, still arrogant. At this time, someone shouted from the side of the boat, "Everyone look, there are people over there too."
At the other end of the field of vision, there were a few small boats coming from afar, and the people on the boats were waving their arms vigorously — they were also people who had returned from outside. The people on the boat laughed and greeted them, and Shishi was also laughing. Suddenly, tears streamed down her face. At this moment, when she saw the fluttering white banners on the island, she suddenly felt as if there were countless small boats returning to the island from all directions. They were thousands of heroic spirits, and they were gathering here under the guidance of the war drums and laughter.
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