Chapter 5 Chapter 20 Peace is the Most Valuable
Tao Changshi fled back desperately with those dozens of wolf soldiers.The snake man couldn't run fast, but they were already exhausted. The snake man kept chasing after them. From time to time, one or two laggard wolf soldiers were cut off by the snake man.However, the snake man was not as fast as a horse when he swam on the ground, and by the time Tao Chang arrived at the suspension bridge, there were only about thirty people left.
I waved my gun and shouted, "Get on the suspension bridge quickly, don't mess around!"
The snake man was only twenty or thirty steps away from me.Now it is really the moment of life and death, I just feel the cold sweat running down my back.When the last wolf soldier rushed to the drawbridge, I took my horse and jumped onto the drawbridge, shouting: "Quickly pull the drawbridge!"Two or three of the fastest rushing snake men had already reached the edge of the moat, and when they saw the drawbridge being pulled up, they let out a sharp scream and dropped their guns.The long spear pierced the air, I know that the snake man's archery and spear shooting are not good, not to mention that now that the suspension bridge has been raised, they will never pose any threat to me, so I ignore them and rush down on the raised suspension bridge.
The door was slowly closing, and a soldier at the gate of the city shouted loudly: "Quick!"I urged the horse and rushed into the city, the soldier said: "Is there no one behind?"
I said, "No more."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the sound of extremely sharp arrows piercing the air behind him. He couldn't help but looked back and saw a row of arrows flying down from the city.These arrows went very fast, and the snake men in front of the moat were nailed to the ground by this row of arrows, screaming and struggling, their long half body slapping the ground, causing smoke and dust to rise from the ground.
This is the Thunderbolt Crossbow.I remember Ren Ji said that the Thunderbolt Crossbow is too far away but not close. We fought with the Snake Man before, and the Thunderbolt Crossbow could not be used until now.Although it was too late to exert this power, those snake men were still shocked, but they still rushed forward.
Is the snake man going to attack?Dongping City is high and deep, and there are many soldiers in the city. The snakemen may not be able to attack by force, but they are like crazy. The row of snakemen in front were shot through the heart by the thunderbolt. The snake man had rushed down the moat and came downstream to the city.
The gate of the city crept shut, and the two gatekeepers were desperately trying to fasten the latch.The door bolts are all one-foot-square logs, and there are three in total. Only after they are locked, I feel a sense of security.As soon as I jumped off the horse, I heard someone shouting from the city: "The wounded come to the top of the city to heal." I rushed to the city and shouted: "Ready for battle! The snake people are going to attack the city!"
When I rushed to the top of the wall, I didn't see anything, but I felt that someone pressed my shoulder and said: "General Chu, don't worry."
That's Makiko!He was still wearing a shabby and clean long dress, with white beard and white hair, floating like a fairy in the twilight.Surprised and delighted, I said, "Really, why are you here?"
"You are injured too, let me show you."
I was also reminded of the wound on my leg.After drinking the Wangyou Juice, I didn't feel any pain. Now that I relax, I feel a tingling pain from the wound.I said, "It's okay, Daoist, you can show it to other brothers first."
There were many wounded soldiers this time, and some minor injuries had to wait. More than a dozen medical officers were busy running around without stopping. Zhen Qingzi was not a soldier. Perhaps because of his excellent medical skills, Shao Fengguan invited him to treat our wounds. Bar.Zhenqingzi dragged a bench from one side and said: "Sit down. Your injury is not serious. If you don't get medical treatment in time, then your leg will be useless in the future."
Although he is old, his gestures are strong, I was pushed down by him and sat down, he said to the side: "Humble, come and help me."
The humble man who was bandaging someone came over.As soon as he saw me, he smiled at me and shouted: "General Chu, you really came back, amazing! Amazing!"
He said it as if we were really going to die in the first place.I smiled wryly, although I was a little smug, but immediately said in dismay: "But the second prince died in battle."
Zhenqingzi's face changed, and he immediately said, "Don't talk."
He took out a pair of scissors to cut open the strips of cloth covering my wound, looked at it and said, "General Chu, this wound is very big and needs to be sewn up. Don't be afraid of the pain."
He moved quickly, he took out a purple red bamboo tube from his pocket, and took out a silver needle from it.The silver needle was worn with a thin black thread. Xu Xinzi first washed my wound with water, and then poured wine around the wound. I only felt a sudden pain in the wound, but Maqingzi was already giving me pain. The wound is stitched up.He is very proficient in flying needles and threads, as if he is used to being a female celebrity.After sewing, he cut off the end of the thread, and took a circle of gauze from Xu Xuxin's hand to wrap it up for me.I saw many soldiers beside me still groaning, and said: "Mysterious, please bandage me with humility, Mysterious, please show it to others."
His medical skills are really superb, and he won't be under the leaf platform. My wound has already felt much better.But he didn't seem to hear me, he was still wrapping around, whispering: "General Chu, be careful." I didn't hear clearly for a while, and said loudly: "What?" But he didn't speak again, Just wrap me up.
After wrapping it up, I stretched my legs and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, you are really skilled in medicine."
Makoto didn't seem to hear it at all.He patted my shoulder, sighed, took out a book from his arms and said, "General Chu, don't you want to learn mind reading skills? Take this "Tao De Xin Jing" and read it."
Surprised and delighted, I took it with both hands, wishing to kowtow to him: "Realist, you promised to teach me? That's great, if there is anything I don't understand, I will come to ask you for advice."
He sighed again: "You may not have this chance."
I put the book in my arms, and I couldn't help being startled when I heard the difference in his words. Before I could ask, he had already gone to treat some other wounded soldiers.I was a little dazed, not knowing what he meant. At this moment, Shao Fengguan's voice sounded: "Your Highness! Your Highness! Bian Zhen, Chu Xiuhong, where are you?"
I hurriedly stood up and shouted: "The last general is Chu Xiuhong."
Shao Fengguan walked over with big strides, Zhuge Fang followed closely behind him.Shao Fengguan looked gloomy, saw me, and shouted: "Chu Xiuhong, His Highness is really dead?"
I lowered my head, not daring to meet Shao Fengguan's provocative gaze: "Yes."
Shao Feng Guanxiang was stunned, and suddenly whispered: "Ren Ji did the assassination?"
I nodded and said, "Exactly. Has this person surrendered himself?"
Shao Fengguan snorted and said: "If this scum comes out of the army, even if his body is broken into thousands of pieces, it will not be able to atone for his crime."
At this time, a sharp whistle suddenly sounded outside the city, and there was another burst of cheers from the top of the city.Shao Fengguan rushed to the edge of the city and looked down, and I followed him limpingly, and saw the snake people outside the city receding like a tide, but the formation was not chaotic at all. With a thunder crossbow, several snakemen were shot to death, but it seemed to have no effect on the formation of the snakemen.
Shao Fengguan murmured: "I really don't know what changed these monsters."
At this time, a soldier ran over panting and shouted: "General Shao! General Shao!" He rushed to Shao Fengguan and staggered, half kneeling on the ground.Shao Fengguan frowned and said, "Go ahead."
"Report to General Shao, General Bi Wei has led the second reinforcement army to the north gate!"
finally come!Bi Wei's army set off on March 10 and arrived at Dongping City in the early morning of March 21. It can only be regarded as a normal speed. Compared with our five days, it is really not fast.As soon as they came, the combat power in the city became stronger and stronger, and it was more than enough to keep it going.It's just that the second prince has died in battle. Thinking about it now, Shao Feng's strategy of attacking at night is really unwise.
Shao Fengguan waved his hand and shouted: "Prepare your horse, go to meet General Bi immediately! Zhuge Fang, you are in charge of the city."
He walked quickly towards the city, and I limped behind him, but he was walking fast, and I saw him disappear into the shadow of the city just after taking two steps.At this time, Cao Wendao suddenly shouted from behind me: "Control! Control! I'm looking for you!"
He also had a piece of gauze wrapped around his head, but I didn't notice that his head was injured.His injury didn't seem serious, but he was still in good spirits. When I saw him, I smiled and said, "General Cao, is Zhen Yining okay?"
"He was seriously injured, but he's fine." He suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Control, General Bi and the others are here."
I said, "Well, I see."
"When I sent Ren Ji to General Shao earlier, I thought he had a bad look on his face. The second prince is finished, be careful that he takes it out on you."
Shao Fengguan is a man with a plan, and the second prince's death in battle must have his own reasons, but if you want to get to the bottom of it, Shao Fengguan is really the first offender.Hearing what Cao Wendao said, I was a little displeased, and said, "What kind of person do you think General Shao is? I am just a small vanguard battalion commander, and my rank is only a general, two ranks younger than him. What are you doing out of anger?"
Cao Wendao swallowed his saliva and said: "Just now I saw that Xing Tiefeng's expression was also very angry, as if you offended him too. Commander, be careful, we should really win this battle, but we lost the second prince, then I don't want to take credit for it, I just hope that the people above have some conscience and don't take us as a scapegoat."
Cao Wendao looks reckless, but he is very delicate, and I know it.It's just that he didn't hold back his mouth, he could say anything, and I don't know if what he said is true, I just scratched my head and sighed: "One day in the army, one day you will listen to the general. General Cao, don't think too much Now, our bloody battle is in the eyes of everyone, so don’t think too badly of others. By the way, you immediately call Qi Qian Wenyi and the others to rule over the Three Commands, and we go to meet General Bi and hand over the order by the way.”
Cao Wendao also sighed and said, "I have to take one step at a time. Alas, Tao Changshi and Liu Shixian were so powerful when they came out. Now that Liu Shixian is killed in battle, Tao Changshi is also injured in a mess. It seems that he can't come out."
He went down to greet me first, and when I limped down, Xiaojun had already brought my Fei Yu over.Feiyu's injury was not serious, but he was bleeding a little, but I still felt distressed when I saw it, so I waved my hand and said, "Let's change to an uninjured horse, take this horse to the stable and feed it well, and I won't ride until the injury is healed. "
When Qian Wenyi and Yang Yi came over, they didn't see Xing Tiefeng.When he asked his subordinates, it turned out that he had already visited Bi Wei and Pu Anli first.Xing Tiefeng and Pu Anli were very close when they were in Qianfeng Camp. When I thought of Pu Anli becoming my boss now, I felt displeased for a while, but I didn't dare to show it on my face.
When I arrived at the north gate, I saw that the lights at the north gate were brightly lit, and ships were entering the dock one by one, unloading their baggage.We took our horses and walked towards the banner of the Chinese Army, but before we arrived, several guards saw us coming and shouted from a distance: "Who is coming? Have you not dismounted yet?"
I jumped off the horse, limped forward, and said: "The commander of the forward battalion, my next general, Chu Xiuhong, came to see General Bi."
The guard glanced at me and said, "So you are General Chu Xiuhong, please come in."
I asked Cao Wendao and a few soldiers to wait outside, and brought Qian Wenyi and Yang Yi in.This is just a temporary Xingyuan, but it is also arranged in an orderly manner.As soon as I entered, I saw Bi Wei and Shao Fengguan under the banner.
These two new generations of famous generals finally met again.Looking at them, I can't help feeling envious, longing to stand side by side with them one day, but there is also a kind of disgust sneaking in my heart.Not disgust for them, but for this endless war and killing.I stepped forward quickly, knelt on the ground and said, "Chu Xiuhong, the commander of the vanguard battalion, has seen General Bi."
Bi Wei stopped talking with Shao Fengguan and glanced at me.His eyes were gloomy and cold, which made me tremble, as if there was an ominous omen, and suddenly he shouted sharply: "Come on! Take Chu Xiuhong down!"
Pu Anli strode over, reached out to me, and said, "General Chu, please give me the badge of General Xia."
I was taken aback, I never thought of such a change in my dreams, and shouted: "General Bi, what crime do I have?"
Bi Wei shouted: "Someone accuses you of plotting to assassinate His Highness Second Highness."
As if I had been hit in the head, I stood up abruptly and shouted, "What? Who sued? Let him come out and confront me!"
I stretched out my hand to draw the knife, but two soldiers with guns came up quickly, and the two guns crossed on my shoulders, pressing heavily.I felt a pain in my leg and couldn't stand the force, so I knelt down and still shouted: "General Bi, the second prince died in battle. Although the last general can't escape the guilt, but if he said that I plotted to assassinate the second prince, it is absolutely impossible for me to kill the second prince." Nothing!"
I shouted like this, but my heart felt cold.What Cao Wendao was worried about turned out to be a reality, but I didn't expect it to come so soon.I scanned the people around Bi Wei, Shao Fengguan?Or Xing Tiefeng?Or someone else?It doesn't matter, I just feel angry.
Bi Wei suddenly said again: "General Pu, there is no proof at the moment, and you can't be dismissed from the post of General Chu. General Chu, this matter will definitely come to light. You can wait at ease in these two days and obey the disposition."
When he said that, I felt a little more at ease, took advantage of the situation and knelt down and said: "General Bi, the last general is incompetent, but there will never be such a conspiracy, I hope General Bi will see clearly."
Bi Wei snorted, and at this moment Qian Wenyi stepped forward and said, "General Bi, General Chu..."
Before Qian Wenyi finished speaking, Bi Wei snorted and said, "Who are you?"
"Qian Wenyi, Commander of the Qianfeng Battalion."
Bi Wei yelled suddenly: "How dare a small commander be so presumptuous! Back down!"
Qian Wenyi was scolded so despondently by him that he stood aside.At this time, Bi Wei said again: "General Chu, please rest assured, things will always come to light, let them go down first."
His words were much gentler, but I felt like my world was spinning, as if I was about to fall to the ground at any moment.This accident came too suddenly, Bi Wei locked me up right after he arrived, I was not prepared for it at all.At this time, Pu Anli came to hand over my saber, and I put the Baipi Dao in his hand as if in a dream, and walked to the two soldiers in front of me.Walking heavily, I have forgotten the pain in my leg.When I came out, I was put on the horse. Cao Wendao looked at me blankly, as if he wanted to ask something, but he didn't ask.
The prison in Dongping City is in the north of the city.I was taken to a hut. Although the house was simple, it was clean. It may have been used to house some criminals.However, the windows of this house are very small, with thick iron rods installed, and the door is thick and heavy, reminding me that this is a prison cell.
It was already broad daylight, and the sun shone through the windows, making the walls glisten.The walls are all made of thick stones, which are not smooth, but also have no edges and corners.I sat on the bed blankly, still a little dazed about my situation.Not so long ago, I was still fighting bloody in the snake man camp. I didn't expect that I would become a prisoner all of a sudden when I finally returned to the city. The changes during this period are too great.
Who the hell sued me?Not many people knew that the Second Prince was assassinated, the most likely ones were Xing Tiefeng and Shao Fengguan.Xing Tiefeng has always been dissatisfied with me being his boss, he is more likely, but his status is too low, even if he says nonsense to Bi Wei, Bi Wei will not listen to his one-sided words and imprison me stand up.From this point of view, maybe Shao Fengguan is more likely, right?
My legs are still sore and itchy.The injury wasn't too serious, and it didn't seem like it would take long to heal.But my heart was full of unbearable pain, indescribable disappointment and grievance.When I was in Gaojiu City, Marquis Wu also suspected that I was a traitor, but he didn't take me as a prisoner at that time, but now I have fallen into this situation.
I took off my combat boots and lay down on the bed.The bed was also a very rough wooden bed covered with a very old blanket.This blanket has covered the prisoners held here before, right?What would they think while lying in this bed?
I didn't want to think about it anymore, I took out the "Tao De Xin Jing" that Zhen Qingzi gave me from my arms, and flipped through it.The two guards searched me again when they sent me in, probably because they were afraid that I would commit suicide, they also took away one of my iron belt rings, but they still let me keep these two books with me.The paper of this book is a bit like satin, but it is not satin, it is much harder, and it may be the kind of "cocoon paper" mentioned by Yemo Dawu of the Xifu Army.Zhijiang Province is also rich in silk, as well as straw cocoon paper.
Turning to the first page, I saw that the writing was yellowed, probably some years old, the handwriting was small, but very clear, and the writing was correct. I leaned against the head of the bed and began to read with the sunlight coming in.
"The principle of heaven is Tao, and the righteousness of man is virtue. By following the Tao and keeping virtue, one can know the law of heaven and correct people's hearts..."
These words are the commonplace of the legal system.Although I don't know much about the legal system, I still know the basic teachings of the legal system, which is nothing more than no desire, no thought, pure and inaction.But now, as national teachers, the two sects of the legal system seem to have nothing to do with these eight characters. When they were in the imperial capital, they paid more attention to pomp and enjoyment than ordinary officials, and they did everything they could to win favor in front of the emperor. Where is the meaning of "clean and inaction"?I smiled wryly, and was about to turn it down again, when suddenly there was a commotion outside, and a loud voice came: "Why don't you let us in?"
That was Cao Wendao's voice!I couldn't help being overjoyed, jumped out of bed, walked to the door, and looked out through the small window on the door.In the yard, Cao Wendao was talking to an official with a blushing face, probably a prison officer.Cao Wendao was spitting, pointing at the prison officer's nose and scolding: "What are you, I fought those monsters to the death on the battlefield, you are sitting here pretending to be a tiger, and now you have to show off in front of me , Be careful that I will go all out and chop off your head with a single knife."
He said "Lao Tzu" one by one, but the prison officer said neither humble nor overbearing: "General, this officer is ordered to guard the criminals. No matter who they are, they are not allowed to enter without permission. If the general continues to make trouble for no reason, this officer will not be polite."
Cao Wendao shouted: "Are you afraid that I won't be able to go to prison? If you refuse to accommodate, I will show you the real robbery."
The prison officer sneered, "Is what the general said true?"
The prison officer was tall and thin, and he was a lot worse than the strong Cao Wendao, but he was not timid in the slightest when he stood in front of Cao Wendao.I was afraid that Cao Wendao would do something in his head, so I shouted: "Cao Wendao, don't be rude!"
When Cao Wendao heard my voice, he was both surprised and happy, and wanted to run towards me, but just as he took a step, the prison officer put a palm on his shoulder, and he couldn't even move an inch.Cao Wendao also seemed taken aback, turned his head and struggled to see if he couldn't escape, then reached out to his waist to feel for the knife.
Although this is not a big prison, it is not easy to enter.Cao Wendao they probably broke in, and they didn't understand the swords on their bodies.I hurriedly said: "Cao Wendao, the rules in the prison are stricter than in the army, no one can be an exception, you go out first."
Cao Wendao took a step back, froze for a moment, punched hard on the leg, and shouted: "Controller, I knew you would end up like this, damn it, we gave them our lives on the battlefield, they are fine , can do anything."
I said: "Now the situation is unclear, don't act rashly, Qian Wenyi is the commander of Qianfeng Battalion temporarily, General Bi will always clarify the matter, you go back first."
Cao Wendao wanted to say something else, so I yelled again: "Cao Wendao, you have committed a capital crime by rushing into the prison with a knife. What more do you need to say? Get out!"
Now that the war is tense, the jailers are lenient to us soldiers who have been killed from the front line. Even soldiers who usually violate military discipline are sent here without any abuse.Cao Wendao broke in with a knife. If it was normal, he would have been killed by the jailer before he got here.Although Taoist Cao Wen is rude, he is not reckless, and he should know the pros and cons.
Cao Wendao was scolded, he looked at me in a daze, and said, "Then... if you are sentenced to death, what should you do?"
Will he be sentenced to death?I'm still at a loss.Even if he has been sentenced to death, do I want Cao Wendao to pull out the vanguard battalion to rebel?The soldiers of the Vanguard Battalion had all escaped from hundreds of battles, and they would definitely not do this.Even if the Qianfeng camp is united as one, how can I say this?I said dejectedly, "Even if I'm sentenced to death, I deserve it."
Cao Wendao was startled again, he didn't expect me to say such frustrating words.He moved his mouth, as if trying to comfort me, but he couldn't say anything.I am a fifth-level general, and I have already been reduced to a prisoner. He is just a small team officer, so what?He looked at half of my face exposed through the small window, already full of frustration.I smiled and said, "I won't be so desperate, I haven't been convicted yet."
He shook his head and said, "Don't worry, Zhi Zhi, we are trying to find a way. Damn, if all those monsters can be killed, this kind of thing won't happen."
In the forward camp, Qian Wenyi will probably speak for me, Yang Yi has no friendship with me, so he doesn't know what his position is, but Xing Tiefeng will definitely not speak for me.A vanguard battalion is already like this, how many generals in the whole army who I have never met can speak for me?I just hope that Bi Wei can listen more to the opinions of all parties, and don't just listen to one side of the speech and be satisfied.I said: "You go back, don't make things difficult for the prison officer."
Cao Wendao looked at me again, and said after a while, "Control, then I'm leaving, take care."
He was very depressed when he left.Looking at his back, I felt like I was sinking to the bottom of the water.
I thought that Bi Wei would interrogate me immediately, but I didn't expect that after Cao Wendao came to see me, nothing happened.I have been reading that "Tao De Heart Sutra" all day long, but the language of this book is ancient, and I don't quite understand it, but it is full of methods for meditating and practicing Qi.Mind reading is said to be the skill of the Qingxu Tuna School, but this book must have been written before the legal system was divided into two factions, so it must have fallen into the hands of Zhen Qingzi who belongs to the Shangqing Danding School.
Today is March 22, and tomorrow is Tianshou Festival.Even in the prison, the guards got some pine branches for decoration.Early in the morning, I practiced boxing in the small house, loosened my muscles and bones, and sat in front of the small window to read a book.The book is too difficult to understand, so I can only meditate according to the pictures in it, breathe evenly according to what it says, and concentrate on it.Although there is no sign of practicing mind reading skills at all, I have been sitting for a long time, and I don't feel irritable anymore when I am locked in this small room.
I was reading the book, and couldn't understand a sentence in it, when the door was suddenly opened, and the jailer said at the door: "Master, please come in."
I still don't know why, Maqingzi walked in.I was overjoyed, stood up and said: "Really, you came just in time, I have something to ask you."
Maqingko is still wearing the patched long gown, maybe he only has this one gown.He carried a small box made of bamboo skin, put the box on the bed and said, "General Chu, today I will change the medicine for your leg injury."
The injury on my leg has recovered very well in the past two days. If it weren't for the occasional pain, I would have forgotten that I was injured.I stretched out my leg and said, "Thank you very much. Daoist, what does 'Yi Shou Dan Tian' refer to?"
Zhenqingzi untied the gauze on my leg and said: "The dantian is three inches below the navel. If you guard it with your mind, you can keep your truth and keep your element, and you will never lose your desire."
I smiled and said, "Can't you miss that place?"
Maqingko just smiled and didn't answer, just tired: "The wound has healed well and can be removed."
He took out a pair of small scissors from the box and cut off the gauze on my leg.The blood had dried up, and the gauze stuck to the skin, and it hurt a little when it was peeled off, and some blood still flowed from the wound.Zhenqingzi wiped away the dirty blood, washed the wound and then wrapped it up for me, saying: "General Chu, your injury is fine, move more, but don't move too much, the stitches can be removed after five days .”
He put away his things and was about to go out, I said: "Senpai, when will I be able to succeed in training?"
He said lightly: "Everything is according to fate, you can't force it, General Chu, the only thing in the world is unpredictable."
I sighed and said: "I know this too. People's hearts are unpredictable, so I just want to be worthy of my heart."
Hearing what I said, Zhenqingzi smiled again and said, "Since General Chu has such a heart, he has already advanced to the next level. General, please rest, I will take my leave."
I still have a lot of questions to ask him, but when I saw Zhenqingzi's extremely deep eyes, I seemed to be unable to say anything.Just said: "Really, take care."
Makoto smiled and walked out the door.When he walked out, the prison officer said respectfully, "Your Majesty, let's go." Probably Zhenqingzi is very respected in Dongping City.From a distance, I could only hear Zhenqingzi chanting loudly: "Cover your hands like clouds, turn your hands and rain, you don't know what the weather is, and you live alone in the cold branches without saying a word, and fly high with the long wind."
What Zhenqingzi thinks is to live alone.I stood silently in the house, and suddenly had the idea of wanting to live in seclusion.However, can I live in seclusion in the mountains and go to unknown places?I have no idea.
Tomorrow is the Tianshou Festival, today's food is much better, and there is a piece of barbecue for dinner.The meat was roasted a little too old, and I was biting it when the door was suddenly opened.I was a little angry, and said: "Hey, even if you want to kill your head, you have to give me a full meal."
The two soldiers who came in lined up, one left and one right, and another person walked in.
It was the prison officer who came in.
I put down the barbecue and said, "Are you going to interrogate me?"
The prison officer didn't speak, just gestured, and the two soldiers came over and searched me for a while, and said, "Sir, he doesn't have a weapon on him."
The prison officer nodded and said to me again: "General Chu, no matter whether you are guilty or not, please forgive me. This is my duty."
I said: "Yes, I know."
"General Bi wants to see you."
It's Bi Wei!My heart skipped a beat.I was locked up early yesterday morning, and now he wants to see me?This is not a good sign.Ren Ji's assassination of the second prince was definitely not on his whim, God knows what conspiracy is behind it.If I was involved in a high-level battle in the empire, I'm afraid I would die without knowing what was going on.
The prison officer took me out, and the two guards walked behind me, escorting me with knives as if facing a big enemy.I followed the prison officer anxiously, not knowing whether it was good or bad.
He walked me across the yard.Next to it was a prison, and it was wartime, and there were quite a lot of criminals. After a while, there was a stench, mixed with the groans of prisoners.I was lucky not to be locked up there.
Walking to the main hall, Bi Wei was standing there with his back turned, looking at a painting on the wall.The prison officer bowed at the door and said, "General Bi, General Chu brought you here."
Bi Wei turned around and looked at me and said, "Come in."
I went in, and the prison officer withdrew, closing the door.
Now, only Bi Wei and I are left in the main hall.I knelt down and saluted, "The last general, Chu Xiuhong, has met General Bi."
Bi Wei is known as the "Fire General" and has a bearded face. Compared with the white-faced and beardless Deng Canglan, he gives the impression of a brave man.But from the time I met him, I knew he would never be a brave man.With Marquis Wen's ability, it is impossible to entrust the important task of the coach of the second reinforcement army to a reckless man.
Bi Wei looked at me and said after a while, "Get up, General Chu, please sit down."
He said "please sit down"!These two understatement words made me feel warm.Bi Wei's current tone does not seem to be speaking to a rebel, that is to say, there is hope that my suspicion will be cleared?
I sat down on a nearby chair.Bi Wei glanced at me again, and said: "General Chu, you are used to fighting, and I'm afraid that you will feel extremely upset if you live in this kind of place."
"General Bi, I'm determined that nothing will happen. It's good for the general to study and recuperate here."
"General Chu, you can live with the situation."
"The matter has come to this point, there is no need to rush, just let it go."
Bi Wei smiled slightly, stood up, and walked a few steps around the room.When he came to the wall, he stopped, turned his head and said, "General Chu, even if you are brave enough to win the three armies, you can't defeat the evil thoughts in your heart. And the military law is ruthless, no matter how much credit you have made, once you violate the military law, you will be punished severely." ,Do you know?"
I said: "There are clear rewards and punishments. This is the key to running an army. The general will know."
Bi Wei sighed and said: "General Chu, now is the time of life and death, and we must be more strict. I really can't figure it out. No matter how dissatisfied you are with the royal family, you shouldn't assassinate His Highness."
Like a thunderbolt, I never thought that Bi Wei would say that.Hearing his words, it seems that my crime of assassination has been confirmed. I said anxiously: "General Bi, did General Shao or Xing Tiefeng speak ill of me in front of you? Even if the final general is incompetent, he can't do such a thing. .”
Bi Wei sighed deeply again: "Xing Tiefeng saw you rescue the assassin Ren Ji with his own eyes, but he didn't save His Highness. Ren Ji came to the imperial capital with you..."
I said anxiously: "General Bi, Ren Ji was the one you sent him to follow me..."
Bi Wei's complexion sank, and he shouted, "Presumptuous!"
I was taken aback, left my seat and knelt down: "The last general is talking nonsense. But why should I assassinate His Highness? As for not being able to rescue His Highness, it was just a mistake, not because I didn't want to save the second prince. General Bi please be aware. If I conspired with Ren Ji, then I should not rescue him, but kill his eloquence. General Bi, you can ask Ren Ji, and you will know the clue."
I feel a little uneasy when I say this.I don't know if Ren Ji, knowing that he is going to die, will bite me indiscriminately and climb me up.But I rescued him, so I guess he wouldn't slander me.
Bi Wei stared at me, as if he wanted to see what I was thinking, and suddenly sighed and said: "Unfortunately, it is too late now, and there is no evidence for your words. Others only say that you deliberately did not save His Highness."
I said, "Why don't you ask Ren Ji?"
Bi Wei just looked into my eyes, which made me a little hairy, but I still looked straight into his eyes.Now I can't avoid his gaze, it will make him feel guilty in my heart.But it was too embarrassing to face his gaze, his gaze pierced my heart like a knife.After a while, he finally said, "Ren Ji died of his injuries yesterday."
"What?" I cried out.When Ren Ji was rescued by me, he was seriously injured, and one arm was cut off by Zhen Yining, but he was able to stand in the end, and he was not in a critical situation.I shouted: "This is silence!"
With a "slap", Bi Wei slapped my face hard, making me dizzy for a while.I looked at him inexplicably, and he shouted: "Ren Ji is locked up in my camp, should I kill him?"
Knowing that I said something wrong again, I hurriedly lowered my head and said, "The last general is talking nonsense again, General Bi, forgive the death penalty for the last general."
Begging for mercy in such a low voice is really not what I want, but I know that my life is at the mercy of Bi Wei.Now that there is no proof of death, he wants to accuse me of the crime, and then follow the military law.
Bi Wei started pacing with his hands behind his back again.Looking at his leather boots, I felt palpitations. Every time he took a step, my heart beat wildly.After walking around, he stopped, and said slowly: "General Chu, although I don't know you very well, I believe you will not plot to assassinate His Highness."
I was stunned.What he said again was beyond my expectation.Tears welled up in my eyes, and I choked up and said, "Thank you...thank you, General Bi."
Bi Wei did not relax, but sighed dejectedly: "However, this matter is too serious. No one can bear the emperor's blame. According to the meaning of the generals, even if you are wronged, you must give the emperor a justifiable punishment." explain."
That means sacrificing me?I just felt my hair stand on end, and I couldn't help clenching my hands.If Bi Wei really wanted to say something to me about "focusing on the overall situation", I would never agree.Now I am facing only Bi Wei. Bi Wei has a reputation for bravery. Although I am unarmed, I probably have no chance of winning against him, so I will go all out.As long as I hold him and take him as a hostage, I still have a chance to rush out.It's just that even if I rush out, I will become a prisoner of the imperial court, and I will never have a peaceful life in the future.
Bi Wei seemed to have seen my thoughts, he put his hand on the knife at his waist, and shouted: "General Chu, this knife is the 'Chicheng' that Lord Wenhou personally gave me. power."
That Chicheng Sword will not be under my Baipi Sword. Even if I have Baipi Sword in my hand, I may not be Bi Wei's opponent. Needless to say, I am now unarmed.I was discouraged, and said dejectedly: "General Bi, I know, in order to quell public opinion, and to prevent the frontline generals from being blamed by the emperor, I should use my head as a prevarication, right? I just don't know what to give me. Intention? The general really can’t think of any reason for me to assassinate His Highness.”
I know that I am in danger, and I am no longer humbled.Although I was still kneeling on the ground, I raised my head and looked at Bi Wei.Bi Wei was a little uneasy now, avoiding my sight and said: "General Chu, although the generals have this intention, everyone knows that you have been born and died, General Chu, and you have not been rewarded for your achievements, but you have ended up like this. I can't bear to say it."
I snorted coldly and said: "What's the use of this, anyone will say hypocritical words. If you use your general Bi's head to appease the emperor's anger, I will cry bitterly at the end, after beheading your head Then say in public that you regret not risking your life to save you. However, General Bi, I can't think of a reason why you want to assassinate His Highness."
I am already extremely angry, and now my words are full of sarcasm.I'm not afraid that Bi Wei will become angry from embarrassment, it's a death anyway, so I have to have a good time before I die.只是我虽在战阵上迭遭凶险，但没有战死沙场，倒是屡次差点死在自己人手上。以前可以说是运气，都逃了过来，这回却大概逃不过了。
二太子失陷之责，实在太大了。我握紧了拳，只待毕炜叫人将我带下去，我便要不顾一切，抄起边上的凳子向毕炜砸去。
毕炜道：“楚将军，你不必绝望。现在还有一个机会，只要你能抓住，那不但无过，反而有功了。”
他的话又象一个霹雳在我头顶炸响，我又惊又喜，又怕他是在骗我，道：“是什么？”
“你昨天不是捉回了一个蛇人么？”
我猛地想起那个那些女人舍命也要保护的矮小蛇人来。那蛇人我命曹闻道将它捆好后一直放在车上，在几辆大车退入城后我记得它也好端端地搁在车上。只是我一见毕炜就被抓了起来，也不知它的下落。I said: "What's wrong?"
毕炜有些欲言又止，想了想又道：“蛇人求和，愿以殿下来交换这个蛇人。”
二太子没死！这个消息让我又惊又喜，连蛇人会来求和这件事也不觉得太奇怪了。我叫道：“真有此事？殿下还没死么？”
“昨天下午，蛇人便派了一个来谈判。先前我们恐怕敌人有诈，那来使才到城下便被守兵飞箭射死，没想到蛇人竟然连着派了三回，第四回我们才让那蛇人进来，它交给我们一封书札，要求以殿下交换那个俘虏。”
我俘获那个蛇人纯粹是因为那些女子要舍命救它，我把那蛇人抓回来，实在是想好好折磨它一番，没想到这个蛇人竟然能救我。我喜道：“那么，为何不答应它们？这是个千载难逢的良机。是怕没人敢去蛇人营中接二太子来么？末将愿往。”
毕炜闻言，一把抓住我的肩头道：“果然？你当真愿去？那就好，只要将二太子救出，你就自然洗清冤屈，而且立下奇功一件了。”
我笑道：“我这条命也是条烂命，反正迟早要丢的。与其被自己人砍死，死后还担个叛逆之名，我宁可死在蛇人手里，这样还能混个英勇战死的名声。”
毕炜一定有些脸红。虽然他一脸大胡子，我也看不清他的面色，但他眼角下的皮肤也红了。他没再敢看我，只是道：“那蛇人来使还在我们营中。据他说，你抓来的那俘虏叫什么百卉，是蛇人的什么公主。”
我不由“扑哧”一声笑了起来。“百卉公主”，这名字倒是清丽可人，原来那蛇人是个母的。可是一想到那副蛇人的嘴脸，和“公主”这个词差得也太远了。没想到我抓了个公主回来，怪不得那些蛇人在我们逃回来时仍然穷追不舍，那是想抢回那个“百卉公主”吧。
冥冥中，也真有什么神灵在守护着我吧。我不禁在暗自感谢上苍。当我被抓起来后，我不知骂过多少次上天的昏庸不明，现在却又在后悔那时骂得太狠了。
毕炜又拿出一张图道：“来，你看，你的任务便是跟着那来使去蛇人营中，看一看殿下的安危。明日在城西交换时，我会命人在这里连夜挖掘一条地道，到时向你示意，你要抓住时机带着殿下钻进地道，定要将他救出来。”
我有些不悦地道：“在蛇人营中，我孤身一个会有什么办法？蛇人纵然是些妖兽，但既然它们有心谈判，为何还要出这种机变？”
毕炜道：“兵不厌诈，安知蛇人会不会有什么别的主意。”
我道：“明天换俘，离城如此之近，蛇人会答应么？”
毕炜笑道：“蛇人到底只是生番，它们绝不会想到我们会有这样的变化，那来使已经答应了。不过你到蛇人营中，只怕还会有一番波折，好自为之吧。”
他笑得有些诡秘，让我有些不舒服。文侯以智计著称，毕炜是他的爱将，倒也已经学了几分，纵然深负勇将之名，却一样喜用诈术。也许对蛇人是不必太光明正大，不管怎么说，能将二太子救出，我也就可以洗脱罪名了。我又跪了下来，道：“末将定不负此命。”
毕炜又象是有些不安，伸手扶住我的肩道：“楚将军，起来吧，起来吧。”
我站起身，仍有些兴奋地道：“毕将军，蛇人的使者话说得流利么？我见过几个蛇人，话说得极好，只听声音绝不知道那是蛇人。”
毕炜道：“能充使者，自然流利。楚将军，我已命人将你的刀枪战马都带来了，一会儿便随那蛇人使者过去。”
他叫过两个亲兵带我去。出去前我又向他行了一礼，心中已是一片轻松。方才我还是个阶下囚，现在又成为一个将领了。如果一切顺利，那我还可以立下功劳，只怕这一功比劫营的功劳更大。
那两个亲兵给我梳洗后，黑月铠也修理一新，飞羽的伤本就不重，没什么大碍，现在已是精神百倍，看见我便将头挨挨擦擦的，很是亲热。将马带过来的士兵对我道：“楚将军，你这马好凶，别的马根本不敢跟它同槽吃料，没想到在你跟前倒是很温顺。”将百辟刀交还给我时，我心中不由一阵激动。这柄刀跟了我许久，几乎已成了我生命的一部份。这柄古之名将李思进的佩刀，上面也许也有李思进的英灵在佑护着我吧。
我周身上下都收拾好了，试了试腿上的伤，几乎感觉不到疼痛，骑在马上时更觉不出来了。毕炜和邵风观已在西门等我，邵风观一见我有些不安，大概他曾经说我的坏话，现在有些不安吧。我自不去与他计较，也不敢跟他计较，在他们面前滚鞍下马道：“末将楚休红，见过邵将军，毕将军。”
邵风观没有说话，他的目光也在躲开我的视线，毕炜却笑道：“楚将军，望你马到成功。”
太阳下，他的明光铠亮得耀眼，象是天神。我衷心道：“末将知道，定会全力营救殿下脱险。”
这时，毕炜看了看东边道：“来了。”我回头看去，只见一辆马车正缓缓驶来。
那是蛇人使者的车吧。