Shen Tang woke up with the smell of food.
Opening your eyes, there is a big leaf covering the top of your head.
What is this?
Shen Tang was stunned for a moment, then raised his hand to brush it away. Without the obstruction of the leaves, the brilliant golden light hanging high above her head shone towards her, making it difficult to open her eyes. Shen Tang stood up with one arm on the ground. Later, he realized that his arms were weak and his stomach growled.
At this time, a familiar man's voice came from above, vaguely filled with joy and relief: "Shen Xiaolang is finally awake."
Zhai Le laughed and joked: "See what I said is right. After cooking a pot of fragrant minced meat, Brother Shen will naturally wake up feeling hungry."
Shen Tang: "..."
When you hear this title, you don't even have to look up to know who it is.
Half sitting up, he asked, "Where are we now?"
When she woke up, she was still a little confused.
"Still outside Xiaocheng.
Shen Tang asked: "Is there any news about Wuhui and them?
"Not yet." Qi Shan shook his head regretfully, and then said with relief, "But Chu Wuhui and Uncle Gong are both veterans of the battlefield. With the two of them joining forces, even the brave warrior last night couldn't keep anyone. Shen Young Master doesn’t have to worry about their safety.”
Shen Tang had no choice but to suppress his worries for the time being.
"Are you hungry?"
Shen Tang's face was pale and he looked like he had no energy. He weakly pursed his lips and said: "Hungry, I'm starved to death, I don't have any strength..."
Qi Shan turned around and filled a bowl of meat porridge in a rough wooden bowl.
He took the bowl of meat porridge and was about to put it to his mouth and drink it down in one gulp when the scene of yesterday's rebel camp suddenly appeared in his mind. What he saw was a chaotic scene. Cattle and sheep wrapped in flames ran rampant in the rear camp. Rebel soldiers tried their best to put out the fire but lost their lives.
The shrill screams rose into the sky amidst the swaying firelight, and the air was filled with the strange smell of burned wood, flesh, and fat.
Thinking of that smell, Shen Tang immediately stopped eating the food he was enjoying and held the bowl of moderately warm meat porridge in both hands without saying a word.
Qi Shan asked: "But it's not to your liking?"
If it's not to his liking, he can only make do with it. His cooking skills are at this level. If he wants to eat what he likes, he can only wait for Chu Yao's boy to come back.
Shen Tang replied: "I suddenly lost my appetite."
When Qi Shan saw her putting the wooden bowl aside, he didn't force her to drink it, but he could not help complaining in his heart - of course not complaining about Shen Tang, but complaining about Chu Yao. In the past, Shen Xiaolangjun could eat anything, but when Chu Yao came, he learned to be picky about food!
so what?
This is all Chu Yao's fault!
Although Shen Tang didn't know what he was thinking, he didn't want to cause misunderstanding: "I just suddenly remembered last night, and I don't want to touch meat for the time being."
After saying that, I felt a little pretentious. Under the current conditions, having a mouthful of rice is a luxury that ordinary people cannot ask for, let alone a big bowl full of meat porridge. The temperature was just right. It was probably warmed by Qishan specifically to ensure that she would be able to taste it when she woke up.
"That's it. It's because I was careless." Qishan didn't force her, and the bowl of meat porridge was not wasted. It ended up in Zhai Le's stomach.
At this time, Shen Tang had time to observe the surrounding situation.
The group of people were in a hidden mountain col, surrounded by cliffs on three sides, and the only exit was across a stream, making it a good hiding place. Not far away, you can see busy soldiers. The clothes of these soldiers are very familiar...
Shen Tang suddenly remembered something.
At this time, Captain Yang's loud voice sounded in his ears.
"The righteous man finally woke up."
Shen Tang suppressed the twitching of the corners of his mouth.
He said slightly unnaturally: "This soldier is so good..."
She finally remembered.
My literary energy was exhausted last night, and coupled with the injuries from the battle, I was extremely tired. As soon as I arrived at a safe place, I fell asleep without any dreams until dawn. The person who responded to them was the unlucky guy from whom she had robbed his tax money—Duwei Yang, the garrison in Xiaocheng!
"If you don't want to be a soldier, just call me 'Lao Yang' as a martyr. I have heard about the righteous deeds from Mr. Zhai, and I admire them very much. It is true that a hero comes from a young age."
Captain Yang has a Chinese character face, a beard, thick eyebrows, majestic black eyes with upward-facing pupils, and a somewhat inhumane arrogance. Outsiders would have thought this person was stubborn and fierce, but now he managed to squeeze out some kindness.
Who wouldn't say something awkward after seeing this?
Shen Tang: "..."
Let her comment that this smile can scare a whole class of children to tears. It's scary, it's scary, it's scary, but Shen Tang still gets the goodwill released by others. Putting on a humble and obedient expression, he said: "Don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously."
Captain Yang's impression of Shen Tang was much higher - there are not many young people like him who are capable and upright, who serve the people rather than profit, are young but not proud, and are humble and polite!
Especially when Shen Tang asked him about the situation of Xiaocheng and the rebels in the next sentence, and asked whether the rebels would withdraw if their food and supplies were burned, Captain Yang admired Shen Tang even more. He tried his best to smile kindly and stroked his beard: "I have sent people to investigate. Once there is an intention to withdraw, I will immediately send a message to the garrison in the city and attack them from both inside and outside to prevent them from coming back!"
In fact, Captain Yang wanted to send troops for a night attack last night.
However, considering that the number of our own troops was too small, the situation of the rebel camp was unknown, and the risk of a sneak attack was too high, we gave up on Zhai Huan's persuasion.
Shen Tang said: "But - the top priority is to evacuate the people of Xiaocheng as soon as possible. In the style of the rebels, when they recover, the thunderous revenge that awaits the people will inevitably come."
Captain Yang naturally knew this too. Just as he was about to speak, he heard the sound of horse hooves approaching quickly. It turned out that the scouts he had sent out were coming back. Seeing the scout's pale face, he rarely softened his expression: "Don't be in a hurry, speak slowly."
In Captain Yang's view, even if it was not good news, it would not be bad news. There was always a relaxed smile on his lips.
Who knows——
The scout's information came like a bolt from the blue.
His head went blank.
More than two hours ago, the rebels increased their troops by 20,000!
Captain Yang Huo stood up and shouted anxiously: "An additional 20,000 troops? Where did the 20,000 troops come from? Where did the 20,000 troops come from?"
However, the scout was afraid of revealing his identity and did not dare to ask too much. At this time, he was still confused about all the questions. He was so anxious that hot sweat broke out on his forehead, for fear that Captain Yang would suddenly kill someone. Qishan, Shen Tang, Zhai Le, and Zhai Huan, who had just approached, all turned pale in their faces.
I thought that after the night attack burned down the rebel camp's heavy supplies of food and grass, they would be able to gain some breathing space. Even if it didn't work, I would be able to squeeze out a few days and take the opportunity to relocate the people of Xiaocheng. At this juncture, 20,000 additional troops appeared. Did these 20,000 troops fall from the sky? ? ?
Captain Yang knew the weight of these 20,000 troops better than anyone else. He was so panicked that his hands and feet were cold, and he murmured: "There has been no movement before..."
Zhai Huan said: "The war situation is changing rapidly. If we had all the information, this group of rebels would not be in the situation they are today."
Shen Tang was worried about the people in the city.
"What...what should we do now?"
The rebels at the beginning were a huge force, but now they have added 20,000 troops. With this lineup, even a blind person can see that Xiaocheng cannot be defended. If you are more optimistic, the city will be destroyed tomorrow; if you are pessimistic, you will destroy the city in the afternoon and massacre it in the evening...
Now we can only hope that the general will not be a bloodthirsty person.
but--
Is this possible?
Sometimes, whether to massacre the city or not, the general's will is not important. What is important is the will of the general's immediate superior. If someone wants to "kill the chicken to scare the monkey", no matter how kind the general is, he has to give the order. Thinking again about the mental illness of Zheng Qiao's family... there is little hope.
Zheng Qiao used extremely bloody methods to capture Sibao County back then. Now it is the turn of the two ruthless brothers who have been tortured by him for many years...
Alas, you must know that there is a generation gap between the brain circuits of normal people and neurotics, and the behavior of the latter is unimaginable to normal people.
Can people really only seek happiness for themselves?
For a time, a sad and solemn atmosphere enveloped everyone.
Captain Yang clenched his fists and gritted his teeth unwillingly: "If Xiaocheng is doomed, I will fight the traitors to the last drop of blood!"
He was already determined to die.
Zhai Le's expression moved slightly, and he wanted to persuade Captain Yang to think again, but Captain Yang's relatives and family members were all in the city, and it was useless to say anything, so he simply turned off his voice and remained silent.
Shen Tang hinted: "How about sneaking into the city to save people?"
Captain Yang knew what she meant.
With his strength as a tenth-level Zuo Shu Zhang, whether he chooses to surrender to save his family or sneak into the city to save people, theoretically there is a high probability of saving the blood of his relatives. Even if it is not possible, he can save a few, so that the entire family will not wait to die... …
but--
He glanced at the tired and desperate faces of the soldiers around him. There was a bit of hesitation in the grief, but he still shook his head firmly.
Captain Yang said: "This is not feasible."
Shen Tang asked: "Why?"
Captain Yang smiled bitterly: "One person's power is limited. He can save three to five people but not three to five thousand. The soldiers chose me. They endured hardships all the way and did not choose to run away. They were not only worried about their families but also trusted me. They believed in me, and I How can we abandon them?"
Shen Tang was stunned.
Whether it was Captain Yang's eyes or his expression, it was clearly written that he was ready to give up this life.
Seeing that everyone was unhappy, Zhai Le said: "Don't be so pessimistic! Maybe, maybe we won't massacre the city? Such bloody and brutal things don't happen often..."
People will die in war, but if one party attacks the powerless civilians after victory, it will be despised and cause public outrage.
As long as I want to save face, I won't do this.
at the same time--
The main tent of the rebel camp changed its owner.
The previously arrogant bearded man sat obediently at the lower left corner. Opposite him, at the lower right corner, sat the savage man whom he had always disliked.
Sitting on the main tent was what he called the "old guy."
That is, his biological father.
However, this biological father had a slumped face since he came here. His eyes were not eyes and his nose was not his nose. In front of all the generals, he was singled out and reprimanded for half an hour. The reprimand includes but is not limited to last night’s fire attack...
Just as the bearded man guessed, all the blame was thrown at him. The real culprit was innocent and was still playing with a few round and shiny pearls in his hands.
Seeing his son's face full of dissatisfaction, the old general threw a string of Buddhist beads at the bearded man: "Do you understand?"
The bearded man said perfunctorily: "I understand."
As for what the old guy was scolding?
He didn't remember it at all.
It's definitely a case of changing the content without changing the medicine.
When he responded, he saw a strange and cold mocking smile on the face of the barbarian opposite him, and he instantly felt angry.
"why are you laughing?"
"It's nothing, it's just a pity for my sworn brother's beautiful family."
The bearded man almost exploded when he heard this.
He scolded: "You beast, you actually covet your brother and sister-in-law?"
The other generals in the main tent had strange expressions. The old general was so angry that he grabbed something and threw it at the bearded man: "You are a beast! How can you talk to your sworn brother if you are unfilial and disloyal? A Nian has always respected himself and loved himself. He can see Fuck those warblers and swallows of yours?"
The bearded man was not happy when he heard this.
What does that savage mean by self-respect and self-love?
In other words, is he being dissolute and frivolous?
What happened to his Yingying Yanyan?
What man doesn't have three or five women in his backyard?
The young man looked at the old general pleadingly: "Father."
Although the people present were either the old general's personal subordinates, officials, or trusted confidants, all of whom were members of his own family, it was not a good thing to be praised for exposing family scandals.
When the old general looked at the young man, his anger immediately dropped by half.
He waved his hand tiredly and said, "Okay, for the sake of Anian's plea, I won't argue with you, an unfilial son, for the time being. Take him down with me!"
The bearded man looked at his father's confidant who was walking toward him, and said with a livid face: "...Don't arrest me, I can leave on my own, general!"
He thought he was being grounded and warned by the old man.
Unexpectedly, he was taken to an open space.
There were still black marks of burning left on the open space from last night. The soldiers set up a pile of firewood and placed a super large pottery urn on it.
The bearded man didn't understand what medicine was being sold in the gourd.
"What is this for?"
After a while, he knew.
His concubine was dragged over like a chicken by two soldiers. The concubine had never seen this battle before. She was frightened and kept calling him for help. The bearded man was anxious and angry, scolding: "Let her go! Do you want your life?"
Dare to touch his woman?
But no one paid any attention to him.
He wanted to step forward and kick the soldiers away, but the old man's henchmen on both sides grabbed his shoulders first, and he was immediately unable to move.
The match was lit and the pottery jar was filled with water.
The bearded man was dumbfounded and his head went blank.
Vaguely, he realized something. He suddenly turned his head and looked in the direction of the main tent, and shouted loudly. His voice was smoothly transmitted to the main tent, but no one responded. After a while, I heard the woman's high-pitched and sharp begging for mercy again, and the voice became more and more shrill and terrifying...
I don’t know how long it took, but the sound gradually became silent.
The young man always sits upright on the lower right side.
But no one was paying attention. Slowly, slowly, his hands hanging on his knees were clenched into fists. The veins on the back of his hands stretched out, and his nails dug into the soft flesh of his palms, pinching out drops of blood. The others also listened quietly, and not long after, the bearded man was brought in.
His face was pale and sweat broke out on his forehead.
The whole person seemed to have had all the bones in his body taken away, and he slumped on the ground helplessly, with his head hanging down and not knowing what he was thinking.
After a while, he murmured: "Why?"
From the outside, the old general is a kind-looking middle-aged man. Although he is very old, he is still tall and burly, without the rickets and leanness that an old man of this age should have: "Because that is the spy sent by the thieves of Xiaocheng to lurk around you."
The bearded man subconsciously replied.
"she is not!"
That concubine is obviously his nanny’s eldest daughter!
The family background is extremely innocent, a Geng country person!
It has nothing to do with Xiaocheng!
