Chapter 6 Chapter 21 Deception
The envoy of the snake man was wearing a moon-white gown and a wide-brimmed hat on his head.This attire makes it more human-like. If you don't look at the half of the snake's body exposed under the gown, it looks like a scholar at first glance.Its eyes are very different from human eyes, but it reveals a kind of wisdom from its eyes, which is very different from the snake people usually seen on the battlefield.
In front of Bi Wei's horse, the snake man raised his upper body on the cart and said, "General Bi, thank you for coming to the city for your hospitality. After tomorrow, we will start fighting again."
Its words were correct, and some soldiers beside it who had never seen the messenger couldn't help but exclaimed.When he spoke, I found Shao Fengguan's body trembling slightly, I wonder if he was afraid.This snake man is alone in our army, and he has no fear at all. Even though the other party is a snake man, I can't help but admire him a little.
Bi Wei smiled and said: "Mr. Mu Kun, this is natural. The two countries are fighting each other, and if you don't kill them, this is General Chu Xiuhong, the forward battalion commander of our army. I hope you can guarantee his safety."
The snake man named "Mu Kun" grinned, probably sneering: "The descendants of Fuxi and Nuwa are not people who don't count their words."
It makes me a little amused that it calls itself "person".At this time, Bi Wei's horse was a little irritable and snorted, and Bi Wei patted his horse and said, "Mr. Mu Kun, please go back. When Bi Wei first arrived in Dongping City, he was surprised to see people like Mr. Mu Kun." Lucky to be born."
Mu Kun nodded and said: "The same is true for Mu Kun. It is really a blessing for our army to have General Bi and General Shao."
Their words were very polite on the surface, but inside they were full of swords and swords. Although this Mu Kun was only a snake man, he was very articulate, neither humble nor overbearing, and did not lose the wind in the slightest.Bi Wei also nodded and said, "Exactly." He turned to me and said, "General Chu, please go with Mr. Mu Kun. If His Highness is safe, we will exchange with His Highness outside this gate tomorrow."
Mu Kun looked at me, as if he was weighing whether my weight in the Imperial Army was enough to serve as an envoy. Bi Wei seemed to have guessed his thoughts, and said: "Mr. Mu Kun, although General Chu is young, he has a lot of experience. He is the hero of the battle, and Princess Baihui was brought back by him."
Mu Kun's scaly face still didn't move, as if the snake man didn't have much expression, and he didn't know what it was thinking.He looked at me from head to toe again and said, "It turns out that General Chu was the one who attacked our barracks the night before yesterday, and he really disrespected me." He bowed his hands to me, but said again: "General Chu, the one who wanted to take your life There are plenty of people, follow me back, can you rest assured?"
I said: "A soldier will inevitably die by the sword in his life, so why should he be afraid?"
Mu Kun grinned, and laughed again: "Sure enough." He cupped his hands again to Bi Wei and Shao Fengguan and said, "General Bi, General Shao, then I'm leaving, please bring Princess Baihui here tomorrow. Exchange your Highness."
When it said "Your Highness", I was a little disdainful, so I didn't think about it, I got on the horse and said: "General Bi, General Shao, I will take my leave."
The city gate slowly opened, and the drawbridge was lowered.Mukun pulled the rope, and the carriage drove out under the eyes of the surrounding soldiers.I followed behind it, waited to cross the suspension bridge, and looked back at Dongping City.The gate of Dongping City has been closed, the suspension bridge is being raised, and the majestic city wall seems to soar into the sky.
The snake people's camp was one mile away. When I was about to leave, I glanced at the ground from time to time, guessing where Bi Wei would open the tunnel.Along the way, Mu Kun was quite different from the talkative ones in the city, and he didn't say a word.It's late spring, the green grass on both sides of the road is fluffy, mixed with wild flowers, red, yellow, blue, white and purple. Sitting on the horse and looking around, there is an illusion of spring outing.
After walking for a while, Mu Kun suddenly raised his whip and said: "General Chu, the front is just ahead, please follow me and don't leave."
It suddenly spoke to me, but I was taken aback, and immediately said: "Yes."
The snake people's camp is still crumbling. Although it has been trimmed, there are still traces of fire in many places.As soon as he arrived at the gate of the camp, Mu Kun shouted loudly: "Mu Kun is back, open the door quickly!"
The door creaked open, and a large number of armed snake men poured out from the door like a flood that opened the gate, there were always two or three hundred of them.Those snake people surrounded us, talking in a hurry.Their articulation is not the same as that of Mukun, and they are just fragmentary words. After listening for a long time, I only heard "Princess Baihui" and "monster" and so on.At first I knew the meaning of "monster". When I saw some snake people looking at me while talking, I suddenly realized that the "monster" they said was referring to me.
In the eyes of snake people, only the appearance of snake people is the appearance of human beings. People like me with two legs in the lower body are indeed monsters in their eyes.Mu Kun swung his whip to disperse them, turned his head sideways and said, "General Chu, last night our army was stormed by you and lost all our supplies, yet they don't really hate you."
It spoke to me quite politely, and I almost forgot that it was also a snake man.Mu Kun led me forward through groups of snake people.Walking past the place where we met those women that day, I saw that there were still some coke inside, and some women were cleaning. When they saw me, a woman let out a "Hey" and talked to the women next to her for a while. Remembering me, several people all ran to the edge of the railing to see me.A snake man holding a long whip shouted loudly: "Go back!" The long whip in his hand "slapped" and the women retreated a little bit, with hatred on their faces.
Mu Kun bypassed the army and arrived at the back camp of the Snake Man.We failed to break into the rear camp that day, but it was still very peaceful inside.The snake man's camp is much neater than the one I saw outside Gaojiu City. I really didn't expect that the snake man has made such great progress in just a few months.Just as I was thinking, Mu Kun suddenly stopped the car and said: "General Chu, we are here, please follow me."
This is a very tall tent, probably the tent of the Chinese army of the snake people.Unexpectedly, the Snakeman's central army account is not in the central army, but in the rear camp.I jumped off the horse, tied Fei Yu to the side, and held the brocade box, thinking that I would soon see the leader of the Snake Man, I couldn't help feeling excited.It's not fear, it's more curiosity.
Mu Kun led me in.The place where the leader of the snake man lives is also extremely shabby, there is nothing but a few tables, and a snake man in iron armor is coiled on a bamboo bed. If you only look at the upper body, it is no different from a human being. The snake's body is coiled in a circle, like a cable, and there are two snake men with weapons coiled on the ground.The weapon is a bit strange, it is a long-handled axe, and the ax is very heavy. Such a weapon can only be used by snake people.Because there were no lights and candles, it was very dark inside, and the face of the snake man could not be seen clearly.But even if there is a torch, I don't think I will know the difference between the snake people and the snake people. In my impression, the snake people seem to look the same.
Mu Kun leaned down on his upper body and said loudly: "General Shandu, the last general Mu Kun has reached an agreement with the Northern Army's chief general, and now the Northern Army's envoy, General Chu Xiuhong, will follow me to write the letter."
Mu Kun's claim to be the "last general" didn't surprise me much, what surprised me was the name of the main general it said.It is called "Shandu"!If I remember correctly, when I sneaked into the Snakeman camp outside Gaojiu City, I heard that the name of the leader of the Snakeman army was also Shandu!I looked up at the snake man, but I still couldn't see clearly.
Shan Du said: "Let him bring it up."
I can get a closer look at it!For some reason, I got a little excited.Although the snake man is not human, I was surprised to meet an acquaintance in the snake man camp.I went forward with the brocade box in my hand, and said loudly, "I am the commander of the forward battalion of the Imperial Army, my next general, Chu Xiuhong, please take a look at it, General Shandu."
I walked a few steps, and before I got to the case, a snake man next to me came over and held out his hand.I handed the brocade box to it, still looking at the snake man.At this time, I can already see the face clearly, but I really can't tell the difference between the snake man and the one next to me. I was about to step back, when Shan Du suddenly said, "Is it you?"
It sounded surprised.I already understood that this Shandu must be the Shandu where Gaojiu was in charge of the supply camp at that time, I stopped and said: "General Shandu, we probably met outside Gaojiu City, right?"
Shandu straightened up abruptly, stretched out his hand and pulled out a knife from behind.This knife is big, but it is like a waist knife in its hand.I took a step back and put my hands on my waist.Mu Kun was a little surprised at the side, and swam up and said: "General, the two countries are fighting each other, if you don't kill the envoy, please calm down, General."
Shandu pointed his knife at me and said, "It was you! You killed Batun!"
Shandu's imperial language is not up to Mukun standard, it sounds a bit vague, but I can still hear it clearly.For a moment, I returned to the outside of Gaojiu City in a trance, and heard Shandu pointing at me and saying this sentence on the top of the flagpole.Even though I don't know who that "Batun" is until now, there are always about a dozen snakemen who died in my hands. If every snakeman has two snakemen who want to avenge them, Then I must have made dozens of enemies among the snake people.I know that fighting with Shandu in the snake man camp is a dead end, but I can't let him kill him easily.I put my hand on the Baipi knife and shouted: "No matter who Batun is, if you say I killed it, then I killed it. If you want revenge, today is the time, come here."
Mu Kun said loudly: "General Shandu, in the name of God Fuxi and Nuwa, I will guarantee the safety of General Chu Xiuhong in front of the Northern Army commander. General, please don't be impulsive."
Shandu stared at me, his golden eyes seemed to spew out fire, and the tongue in his mouth stretched and contracted, more like flames.My five fingers are firmly grasping the handle of the Baibi Dao, I know that I am in a critical situation, but my heart is unusually peaceful.
After a while, Shandu suddenly shrank back, put the knife back on the bamboo bed, and said in a low voice, "Chu Xiuhong, I remember this name."
It spoke so viciously that I felt chills all over my body when I heard it.It was not the first time to be threatened by someone, but it was unprecedented to be threatened by a snake man like this.I felt my palms dripping with sweat, and said in a low voice: "General Shandu, if there is a chance, I will accompany you at any time."
Fighting alone with a snake man, I will definitely die.But I must not be threatened by people, not even snake people.
Shan Du coiled back on the bamboo bed, the snake man next to him handed the brocade box to it, Shan Du opened it, and took out a scroll of silk scrolls from it.He looked at his face for a while, and suddenly said: "Mu Kun, change prisoners tomorrow, do you agree?"
Mu Kun bent his upper body, probably as a salute: "The last general agrees."
"These monsters are the most deceptive, can this be true?"
Mu Kun said: "General Shandu, no matter what, I have no other way to go, otherwise I won't be able to explain to the king."
Shan Du looked at me again, and said: "Okay, if something happens tomorrow, then I will immediately chop you into pieces together with that prisoner, and those women."
Its words were full of threats, I couldn't help shivering, and I didn't dare to look into its eyes anymore, I just said: "I'm here, it's easy for General Shandu to kill me, but even if General Shandu wants to kill me soon Kill me, don't worry, I won't be caught without a fight."
Shandu was probably a little dazed by my words, rubbing the silk script with his hands, crumpling the silk script into a ball.The scroll of the silk book is made of high-quality solid wood, and the mountain can be kneaded like that, the solid wood inside must have been turned into sawdust.If its hands were to twist my head, I'm afraid it would even wring out my brains.That Princess Baihui is probably very important to Shandu. Fortunately, it didn't know that I was the one who captured the snake woman, otherwise I was afraid that it would cut me down regardless.
Mu Kun said: "General Shandu, let General Chu Xiuhong see the prisoner tonight, and we can exchange them tomorrow when the sun rises overhead."
Shandu's body was still ups and downs, as if he was suppressing his anger, after a long time, he snorted: "Take it down!"
Mu Kun bowed again, and I also bowed to Shandu, and followed Mu Kun out of the tent.As soon as he got out of the tent, the sun was shining outside, and the situation in the tent just now became more and more like a nightmare.Mu Kun probably thought I was frightened, and said from the side: "General Chu, don't worry, General Shandu keeps his word. In our camp, as long as you don't provoke first, you will definitely not be in danger."
It actually comforted me, and I even forgot that it was also a snake man.I said, "Take me to His Highness's camp."
Mu Kun responded and got into the carriage, and I also jumped on Feiyu and followed behind it.The snake men on both sides swam over to watch me from time to time. I was taller than them riding on the flying feathers. Once they stretched their bodies, they formed a dense row like a pile of bean sprouts.Mu Kun walked through the crowd of snakes and led me to the Zhongjun.
The women in the Chinese army are still working, and some stronger ones are setting up tents.We burned down their shelter that night, and they had to do these things.Mu Kun suddenly said: "General Chu, you burned all the pigs in our captivity to death, but you killed these women."
What does its words mean?I felt a chill in my body again, and said in surprise: "You... are you still eating people?"
"I didn't eat it at first, but you, General Chu, burned all our food to death. Now there is no other way but to eat it." It said, suddenly the corner of its mouth curled up, as if it was smiling.I said: "You..."
But I can't speak.Those women defended Princess Baihui so much, probably because Princess Baihui could protect them.But I thought I was their savior, but actually captured their protector and harmed them instead. No wonder they rushed to protect the snake man at that time, and they hated me when they saw me just now.
Mu Kun led me outside a tent.The tent was hidden among a group of snake men, and there were two snake men guarding the door. When they saw us, the two snake men guarding the door raised their spears and let us in.Mu Kun went in first, and before I entered, I heard someone screaming inside: "Don't! Don't kill me! I am the prince, and I have money. I will give you whatever you want!"
That is the second prince!I was both pleasantly surprised and frustrated.Is this the high-spirited second prince?It took only two days to become like this after being trapped in the snake camp. Under the threat of death, what's the use of having soaring arrogance?
Mu Kun said: "Second Highness, I didn't come to kill you, but I have good news."
I snatched up to Mu Kun, only to see the second prince curled up in the corner of the tent with some straw and mud stains on his body.Feeling sad for a while, I walked up to him and knelt down and said, "Your Highness, the last general Chu Xiuhong came late, please forgive the last general for the death penalty."
The tent was also very dark. The second prince saw me, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed ecstatically, "Are you here to save me?" But he immediately said suspiciously, "It's you, why did you come here? ?”
I knelt in front of him and said, "The Snake Man wants to use you to exchange prisoners with our army. Generals Shao and Bi have already agreed, and ordered me to welcome His Highness back."
The second prince's eyes lit up again: "Can I really go back? Is it true? You won't lie to me, will you?"
"Don't worry, Your Highness, everything is ready, and His Highness can go back tomorrow."
The second prince stood up, with a look on his face: "That's great, great, great." He said "Great" a few times, as if he wanted to say something else, but After talking for a long time, I still squeezed out another sentence, "That's great."I knew that the second prince was very excited now, so I helped him to sit down and said, "Your Highness, please rest for a while." The snake man's tent didn't even have any chairs or stools, so he could only sit on a pile of straw on the ground.Looking at him, I can't help feeling a little sad.
The second prince who is both civil and military, who would have thought that he would look like this now?
Mu Kun said on the side: "Second Highness, General Chu will take you back tomorrow, you can relax."
The second prince said: "Thank you so much, Mr. Mukun." He paused and said, "Then you go out first, I'll tidy up." He seemed to know Mukun too, and he was terrified of it just now, and now He recovered a bit of the prince's bearing.I knew that he had regained some sense now, so I bowed again and said: "Then the general will be by your side tonight, please rest assured, Your Highness."
Walking out of the second prince's tent, the snake men outside looked at me. I was dressed in military uniform. They probably had never faced an imperial army without doing anything, and the spears they were holding couldn't help shaking.At this time Mu Kun also came out, and said behind me: "General Chu, you can rest in the tent next to the Second Highness tonight."
I turned around and said to him, "Thank you very much." Although Mu Kun is a snake man, he speaks well and has a graceful demeanor. I really can't compare him with the ordinary snake men I usually see.I untied Feiyu, didn't get on the horse again, and Mu Kun didn't get on the cart, and followed me.
The place where I was arranged to live was next to the Second Prince.The tent was not big, and there were no beds, chairs or stools inside. It was only a pile of straw, which could be regarded as a bed.Sleeping here is naturally uncomfortable, but of course you can't ask too much now.Mu Kun led me there, and said: "Don't wander around, if you go too far, I can't guarantee your safety. I will arrange someone to deliver the food later. General Chu, the food in our army It’s not better than yours, but please bear with me.”
I smiled and said, "Mr. Mu Kun, thank you very much."
Mu Kun grinned again and said, "General Chu is someone that even General Shandu hates to the bone. Since you are extraordinary, I also underestimate you."
Its laughter is actually ugly, dry and hard, but I don't find it annoying, and even think its laughter is much more amiable than that of some people, such as Tao Shouzhuo from the Xifu Army. He smiled, sat down and said: "The world is really unpredictable, it was yesterday, how could I have imagined that I would live in your camp today."
Mu Kun smiled again, then suddenly lowered his head and said, "General Chu, do you think we're really that scary?"
My heart trembled.Even though Mu Kun can speak fluently, he is still a snake man after all, how can I treat him like a human being now?But it is too difficult for me to treat it as a different kind.I sighed and said, "You want to eat people, how can people think that you are not scary?"
Mu Kun was startled, nodded to me and said: "That's right. General Chu, I'm leaving first, I hope there will be no accident tomorrow."
It went out.Walking outside the tent, he suddenly sighed and said: "General Chu, sometimes I also feel strange. I never eat people, not even raw meat, but so many compatriots want to drink blood like hair. General Chu, among your clan Is it the same?"
Its words were flat, but I was shocked.What Mu Kun said was not wrong. Considering the size of the empire, it is said that there are some barbarians who drink blood like hair, but there are some like Mu Kun among the snake people. Do we still have to regard all snake people as a group of monsters?I have always felt that snake people are slowly improving, and some have improved as much as humans, but I have never seen snake people and humans juxtaposed like Mu Kun.
Mu Kun has already walked out and is explaining something outside. I sit on the ground and think about what he said.
The tent had no windows, and a few gleams of light came in from holes in the wall.I sat on the ground with the back of my head in my hands, leaning against the tent behind my back, and stared at the ray of sunshine ecstatically.
Although the war has temporarily stopped, but after tomorrow, the war will start again.It's just that my view of snake people has changed a little now. When fighting with snake people in the future, I don't know if I can still treat them as beasts as before.
After sitting there for an unknown amount of time, I was awakened by a voice from outside: "General Chu, may I come in?"
The voice was a bit stiff, it must be a snake man.I didn't expect that besides Mu Kun among the snake people, there would be such a polite person.I sat up straight and said, "Come in."
The one who came in was a very small snake man, carrying a three-layer food box made of bamboo, came up to me, put the food box on the ground and said: "General Chu, Mr. Mu Kun ordered me to deliver food to the general."
As it spoke, it secretly glanced at me with curiosity.In the food box is a piece of barbecued meat, a bamboo tube of rice, and a pair of chopsticks.I picked it up and ate two chopsticks. I felt that the food was soft and hard, and the meat was roasted just right, so I asked, "Hey, is this the food you cooked?"
The snake man was looking at me, listening to my question, it lowered its head and said: "General Chu, my name is Mi Re, you can call me Mi Re. I can't cook this meal, I will learn it in the future."
I took a bite of the meat, and the juices from the roast dripped down my chin.I wiped it off and said, "Is it made by those women, do you eat these too?"
Mi Re respectfully said: "Most of my companions still like to eat it raw. General Chu, does it taste good when cooked?"
I smiled wryly and said, "I've never eaten raw, but I think it must be much tastier than raw. Haven't you?"
It said: "I can't eat anything delicious. It's strange, I heard your women say that cooked ones have a taste, but I can't taste it."
Because snakes eat everything by swallowing it. If I swallow it whole, of course I won’t be able to taste it.It's just that I can't explain these things clearly, so I said softly: "Actually, eating cooked and raw food is just a habit. Some ethnic groups in our country also like to eat raw food."
I'm not trying to comfort it, Shimai likes to eat raw.When I was in the imperial capital, I also went to Wazhuang to see it, but I really couldn't swallow the thinly sliced raw meat.Mi Re seemed a little excited, and said, "Really? General Chu, can you tell me how you usually live?"
I was a little wary, I didn't know what it meant by asking these words, so I said, "I can't explain this, what's wrong?"
"I really want to go and see you there."
I sneered and said, "You have already breached so many cities, haven't you seen them? Everywhere is not far behind."
Mi Re lowered his head and said, "No, I want to walk among you and see with my own eyes how you live."
I'm at a loss for words, Mire's idea is similar to that of an ordinary person in a remote part of the empire who wants to see the world, but this is too impossible. Once a snake man appears in the crowd, how can it not cause an uproar?I'm afraid there will be a knife and a gun to stab him soon.
Suddenly, I was startled, and I forgot to chew a piece of meat in my mouth.
I haven't seen that prisoner, Princess Baihui, since I captured her back.Will it be safe and sound when it arrives in the forward camp?At that time, I was locked up by Bi Wei as soon as I returned to the city. I didn't know what happened. Cao Wendao didn't say anything when he came to see me, but he hated the snake people deeply, and the Qianfeng Battalion can be said to be the most powerful army in the imperial army. An army that hates the snake people thinks that Cao Wendao once ate the meat of the snake people raw on the river, so will Princess Baihui already...
When I thought of this, I was so shocked that I forgot to eat. Mi Re said beside me, "General Chu, what's the matter? Isn't it delicious?"
I don't know if it belongs to a male or a female. Although the words are still stiff, there is a bit of gentleness.I was so upset that I ate all the rice and meat indiscriminately, and said: "You take it."
I'm afraid... I'm afraid that snake man has been killed!I don't know how Bi Wei deceived Mu Kun. In this way, he probably won't be able to hand over Princess Baihui tomorrow. No wonder Bi Wei wants to send me. Under such circumstances, no one dares to come to the snake man camp to act as a concubine. Messenger, and Bi Wei is about to make a change.I only felt cold sweat coming out of my vest, and my clothes stuck to my flesh.
The snake man must be dead.In desperation, Bi Wei could only use me, who knew nothing about the situation, as an envoy, and it was so urgent.It stands to reason that Mu Kun also stayed in Dongping City for a day, and he should have considered it carefully the day he came, but he had to wait until the next morning to tell me, which was precisely to prevent me from having time to inquire about the situation.
After figuring this out, I really realized my situation.I have never liked to use tricks, but now I understand that tricks are sometimes more effective than swords and guns.If Bi Wei told the truth, I'm afraid I wouldn't dare to come, unless he threatened me with death.But I know the inside story, and I am definitely not as calm as I am now, I am afraid that Mu Kun has already seen the clues.Thinking of my request to come here, I thought that Bi Wei thought highly of me at that time, and I was quite proud of myself, but now I can only smile wryly.
Things have come to this, I can only bite the bullet and go on.
Mi Re was arranging the food boxes, and said again: "General Chu, are you okay?" There was concern in its voice.I didn't dare to be distracted anymore, I smiled and said: "I was a little uncomfortable just now. You go out first, I have to sleep."
I used to think that this errand was safe and sound, but now I realize the mystery.As soon as Mire left, I just felt that my whole body was shaking. It was really hot day by day, but I felt like I fell into an ice cave all at once.After sitting for a while and calming down, I stood up and walked outside.As soon as they arrived at the door, the two snake men outside shouted, "What are you doing?"
I said: "I'm going to see our Highness. Why, can't you?"
These two snake people spoke poorly. I'm afraid they couldn't even understand what I was saying. After a while, a snake person stammered: "You can't go, Mr. Mukun."
Mukun won't let me go out?I was a little angry, but I didn't dare to say anything, I just said: "Why?"
"Master Mukun, you can't leave."
That snake man came and went was just this sentence, I was so confused, I looked at the tent of the second prince over there, and I could only go back inside in despair.Because of fear, the little tiredness after eating a full meal has disappeared completely.Fortunately, Baipidao is still by my side. Sitting in the tent, I hold the handle of Baipidao tightly, thinking about tomorrow.If you split the tent, you can go out, but once the snake man finds out, he will kill me indiscriminately first.
It is useless to be afraid now, since I have come to this point, then I have to go on.It is very difficult to rescue the second prince. The assassination of the second prince is probably Wenhou's idea. As Wenhou's general, Bi Wei must have known about it.What role did Shao Fengguan play in this matter?He offered the plan of the night attack, obviously to trap the second prince, if the night attack failed, he and the second prince would definitely be discredited, but the night attack can be said to be a success, and it would be unreasonable to say that Shao Fengguan wanted to frame the second prince.The second prince sent troops to rescue us, it may not be within his expectation, maybe, in his plan, he has other plans, right?
I suddenly thought of Ren Ji, and suddenly, my mind lit up again.correct!The second prince's dispatch of troops must have been unexpected by Shao Fengguan, Ren Ji was only helping to defend the archery tower, he really shouldn't have come to the snake camp with the second prince, that was probably the last move of this strategy.If the second prince didn't send troops, he might be killed for no reason in the city. Even if the anti-surprise team sent by Shandu was small, he could still take advantage of the chaos, so it can be said that the second prince died in the scuffle.Unexpectedly, the second prince would enter the snake camp, so Ren Ji was forced to take the risk with his own life, and he did not hesitate to die with the second prince.Now the second prince is trapped in the snake camp, and the news has spread throughout Dongping City. If the second prince is not rescued, or the rescue is not effective, then Bi Wei will not be able to confess in front of the emperor.Thinking about it together, Bi Wei is eager to rescue the second prince now, as for my life and death, he is not in his consideration, I am afraid that if I can die in battle, it would be more in line with him.Tomorrow the prisoners will be changed, once the Snake Man finds out, and as long as the second prince has not arrived in our barracks, he will not be able to escape their pursuit, so this tunnel must be used.
what should I do now?
My fingers touched the handle of the Baipi Knife, and I felt a headache from thinking about it. With a soft "cha", I pulled the Baipi Knife out of its sheath.
The light of the knife was like snow, and the skin also felt a little painful.Although the eight-character inscription on the handle of the knife cannot be read clearly, it is already familiar by heart.I silently read: "It's not easy to only do one thing."
The knife is still extremely sharp and can break hairs.In the endless killing, can I really achieve "the ideal is not easy"?I'm afraid that I can't even treat people with sincerity. Now, I have to use some tricks.
I smiled coldly.I can't let Bi Wei exchange my life for credit, I must also go back to the city safely.Rescuing the second prince, I can always be promoted to another level. One day, I will be able to sit on an equal footing with Bi Wei. At that time, let's see if he dares to plot against me.
After an unknown amount of time, I suddenly heard Mu Kun's voice again: "General Chu, are you still asleep?"
I turned over and stood up, walked to the door and said, "Mr. Mu Kun, your two subordinates won't let me go out."
Mu Kun laughed.Although its laughter is still ugly, its interest seems to be much better.It probably feels that after dealing with us, we are not the kind of strangers they imagined.It smiled twice and said: "I'm really sorry, I'm afraid that something will happen to you, General Chu, and a good thing will turn into a bad thing, so I told them not to let you go out. General Chu, it's still early for dinner, come out with me for a walk."
Going out with a snake man?I don't know what it's thinking, but it's good to get out and get some air.I said: "Okay." Follow it out of the tent.
The tents of the snake people were set up very densely.Now the sun has slanted to the west, and the sun shines in from the tents, peaceful and serene.Mu Kun led me to an open space and said, "General Chu, take a rest."
I picked a rock and sat down, looking at the sky.The sky was blue, and white clouds floated in the sky, as if they were within reach.I took a long breath, and there was only some grassy smell in the air, but there was nothing strange about it.Mu Kun said on the side: "General Chu, what a beautiful day today."
Its words were as gentle as an ordinary person's. I exhaled the turbid air in my chest, and felt refreshed, but I didn't reply.
Mu Kun is really no different from a human being.If snake people are like it, will we live in peace with them?I have no idea.But Mu Kun seemed to know what I was thinking, and suddenly said: "It would be great if there was no war."
I was startled and looked at Mu Kun.Although Mu Kun's profile is a little strange in the setting sun, his eyes are shining with the light of wisdom.I murmured, "You...you don't want to go to war either?"
Mu Kun grinned silently: "I never want to have a war. Sometimes I think, the world is so big, can't you tolerate us having a place of our own to inhabit?"
I looked at the sky, the setting sun was setting, and it was golden and red, illuminating the surrounding fields with splendor.I said: "Mr. Mu Kun, you are the ones who came to attack us."
Mu Kun shook his head, and said slowly: "I don't know. Since I was hatched, I have read many ancient books from Fuxi and Nuwa, and the more I read, the more I feel that this war is really meaningless. Alas, General Chu, Why don't you give us a place to live?"
I was a little angry, and said: "In Gaojiu City, your general Shandu led troops to surround us in the city, and wiped out our 100,000 troops in more than 40 days. Could it be that we don't let you have a place to live? Now that you have When you hit the south of the big river, half of the rivers and mountains fell into your hands, but now you say such things."
Mu Kun turned his head to look at me, and I was shocked to find that there was pain in his eyes.It whispered: "I really don't know. Master Tian told us that you are some irrational monsters who robbed the land left to us by Fuxi and Nuwa, and now we should take it back. But now, I am getting more and more I feel that you are not much different from us, you also have joys and angers, sorrows and joys, does this kind of war violate the virtue of the Great God?"
I have heard it say "Fuxi Nuwa" several times. I remember hearing the words of "Fuxi Great God" in Shantou Ying. Although it is saying that this land belongs to the snake people, I don't want to refute it. , just said: "Fuxi Nuwa? Is that your god?"
As soon as Mu Kun heard me mention "Fuxi and Nuwa", his eyes became brighter, and he said, "That's right. Those are our ancestors, two great gods. They created this world, In ancient times, we lived and worked in peace and contentment on this land, and at that time the world was also under the control of our two-limbed people. It was not until a group of four-limbed people transformed from wild beasts appeared that we were expelled to the deep mountains."
I looked at my hands and feet, I was probably what Mu Kun called "a man with four limbs", and I couldn't help but laugh.The Snake Man's Heavenly Sorcerer really knows how to spout nonsense, but Mu Kun actually believes it.But now in the snake camp, I didn't dare to provoke it, I just said: "You said this world belongs to you, but why is the world full of people like us?"
I was a little angry, and my words were not too polite, but Mu Kun was not angry, but said: "I also had doubts about this matter, but Master Tian once took us to visit the sanctuary. The stone inscriptions in front of me are exactly about people with four limbs submitting to the Great God Fuxi and Nuwa. General Chu, facts are facts, even if you don’t want to believe it, it’s still a fact.”
It turned black and white in such a way that I couldn't help being furious, and shouted: "Mr. Mu Kun, Mr. Chu is now in your camp, life and death are only in your mind. But if you continue to fabricate these monsters to deceive people, you are insulting me."
Mu Kun seemed to know my reaction, he took out a small bag from his arms and said, "General Chu, I know you won't believe it. I've engraved a stone carving from the sanctuary here, you might as well take a look."
那小包并不大，木昆穿着士人的长衫，放在里面时自然看不出来。我半信半疑地接了过来，木昆道：“你看吧。如果你硬要说这是我伪造出来的，我自然无话可说。”
我解开那小包，里面是一幅白绢，上面斑斑驳驳的都是些黑色，大概是种染料。我抖开了，只见白绢上绘着一块尺许见方的图案，是一排人伏倒在两人跟前。那是从石刻上拓下来的，很模糊，但还看得清，伏在地上的是些长着腿的人，正在向一个高台行礼。高踞在一个台上的两个人，那两个人……
那两个人，正是人首蛇身的！虽然刻得很粗糙，但是可以看得清清楚楚，那两个人上身与人一般，下身却的的确确是蛇身，无论是谁都不能说那是两条腿。这块白绢上面尽是些苔藓，大概是木昆拓画时沾上的。
如果这石刻是真的，那么木昆说的话也都是真的了？我只觉一阵天旋地转，一个字也说不出来。木昆低声道：“原先我自己都不信，但看到后却不得不信。楚将军，你现在也该信了吧？”
如果蛇人当初确是人类的主人，那么它们来攻打我们，是为了夺回原有的东西了？我被木昆的这一席话惊得昏昏沉沉，半晌，才道：“这未必是真的……”
木昆厉声道：“楚将军，这不是信不信的事。我从古书上看到，你们的帝都雾云城在远古时就是我们的京城，那时定也会有这些石刻，说不定现在仍能找得到。楚将军，日后你若有机会，不妨找找看。”
此时我已信了它五成了，但要我承认蛇人才是正宗，而我们人类却是后来夺取了它们的土地，这实在让我无法接受。我托着那块白绢，一句话也说不出，手却在不住发抖。
木昆道：“楚将军，你可以将这个拓本拿去。我想你们的老人可能依稀还记得有些传说，我不相信创世的伏羲女娲大神居然会在你们的传说中消失无迹。”
我将那白绢折起来，恨恨地道：“好。不过，就算这是真的，千万年前的事岂能作为今天的佐证？”
木昆又干硬地笑了笑道：“自然。千万年前的事，自然已经过去了，但你们也不要再说我们是些兽类，要说更像兽，我倒觉得你们四肢人更像些。”
它的话语已带着讥刺，我却一句话也无法反驳。
换俘是在第二天的早上。
我和二太子并排站在东平城的西门外，周围是一队全副武装的蛇人，山都坐在一辆大车上，也不看我们。
东平城的西门缓缓开了。一队人马走了出来，当先一骑却是邵风观。他身后也有一辆马车，车厢却是用布蒙着的。他在离蛇人还有一百余步的地方站住了，高声道：“我军将战俘带来了，你们快将殿下放过来。”
山都转过头看了看我，它眼里已满是怨毒，但又伸出一只手道：“来人，将……”
它话未说完，后面忽然有一阵混乱。山都一下停住了话，向邵风观喝道：“怪物！你们这等不讲信义？”
隔得百余步，我也见到邵风观有些不安，叫道：“我军并无异动，你这话是何意？”
这时一个坐着小车的蛇人上前来道：“山都将军，天法师有急使来到！”
这正是木昆。它在蛇人营中大概也是参军的角色，没有披战甲，仍是一身月白长衫。山都一怔，道：“天法师？”
天法师的使者？我也一阵惊愕。“天法师”这个名字我已听过好多遍，大概是蛇人真正的首领，我转过头去看看后面，只见一辆车正在蛇人营中穿过，向前面驶来，等靠近了，我才看到上面坐的也是一个蛇人。
那蛇人大概赶得很急，一到山都面前便高声叫道：“天法师有令，任何人不得与怪物谈和，否则以反叛论处！”
这话不是很响，我距山都不远，听得这话却象是晴天一个霹雳，伸手要去拔刀，边上的蛇人猛地将兵刃对准我。我的手按在百辟刀刀柄上，也不敢拔出来，只是望向山都。
没想到直到这时候还出这个变故！
我盯着山都，山都也正看着我，这时邵风观在那边叫道：“到底好了没有？”
他没有听到这个天法师特使的声音，等得有些焦急。山都看了看邵风观身后的车子，又看了看我，喝道：“将他们放了！”
邵风观那辆车里多半是个死了的蛇人吧。我本已绝望，猛然间听得山都的这条命令，不由大喜过望，叫道：“快让开！”
那个天法师的特使也是一怔，这时叫道：“山都，你敢违抗天法师的法旨么？你不要命了是吧？”
山都喝道：“天法师不知百卉公主正处于危难之中，你给我闭嘴！”
山都一定和“百卉公主”有不同寻常的关系。我松了口气，叫道：“那就快将殿下放了，马上交换！”
那使者还待叫什么，山都喝道：“杀了！”它边上的几个蛇人突然出手，五六支长枪齐出，那使者一定大吃一惊，它也没带武器，见长枪刺来，伸手一把抓住枪杆。但它力量虽大，要对付的同样是蛇人，虽然抓住两支枪，另外的枪却已刺入了它的身体。
山都不惜杀了使者，那是铁心要换回百卉公主吧。不知为什么，我现在突然对它有一些抱歉。我知道那百卉公主多半已经死了，现在却有些不忍看到等一会山都的痛苦和愤怒，只是对二太子道：“殿下，我们快走。”
我们一走出队列，邵风观身后的车也已出列了。我走到二太子身边，不敢跑得太快，眼角却在地面上找着。毕炜说他会连夜开凿地道，出口一定就在当中，我必须要找到。
那辆车与我们交错而过，驾车的是个帝国军，他看了看我们，好象有些害怕。但我心急火燎，拼命地找着。现在两方行程都已过半，但那辆车一到蛇人营中，事情便立刻暴露，如果二太子没能及时进入地道，疾冲上来的蛇人一定会将一切都碾作齑粉的。
突然，我发现前面几步远的地方有一块四尺方圆的泥土土色有异。我知道这定是毕炜开凿的洞口了，心中一喜，但也不敢声张，只是道：“殿下，你马上跃马跳到那块地方。”
我与二太子并肩而行，二太子一怔，马上点了点头。这时我已听得山都在大声道：“百卉公主！百卉公主！”想必它已急不可待。
突然，那辆车上的士兵发出了一声惨叫，我吃了一惊，只道出了什么事，回头一看，只见那士兵跳下了车，正向我们这儿跑来。他驾着车到了离蛇人的阵营二十余步远时，只怕惊吓过度，再也支撑不下去了。他一跳车，蛇人登时向那车一拥而上。
事已大急！我一惊之下，伸掌在二太子座骑后胯上一拍道：“快走！”
二太子的马一跃而起，正落到了那块土色稍有差异的地方。看来二太子弓马娴熟的名声也不是吹出来，他的驭马之术当真可圈可点。他的马前脚刚落地，我已看见那块土皮一下塌陷，心中一喜，叫道：“太好了！”
毕炜没有骗我。我怕的就是毕炜故意跟我说有个地道，万一却是实地，那岂不是上当了？我刚叫出，身后却听得山都声嘶力竭地叫道：“公主！”
它已发现了吧？虽然我猜测那个百卉公主多半已经身死，但现在仍是一凛。只听得山都叫道：“杀了！全杀了！杀了他们！”
蛇人的叫声也会这么响，实在了不起。我一催马，身后已传来那士兵的又一声惨叫。这一声惨叫却已是真正的惨叫，定是那个跑回来的士兵被蛇人追上，已砍作肉泥了。我猛一催马，正要向那地道口跳去，却听得前面也是一声惨叫。
这是二太子的声音！
我被这一怔，此时才看清，前面那块土色有异的地方已塌作一个洞口，但那并不是地道，而是一个陷阱！
这又是一个圈套！
我已见邵风观正在指挥士兵退进城去。他带出来的兵也不多，退进去时倒是极快。我心血一涌，人在马上也晃了晃。
任吉的幕后指挥，恐怕也正是毕炜吧。邵风观虽然声称与文侯反目，但实际上，只怕是文侯设到二太子身边的反间。这条计策丝丝入扣，只怕，真正的主谋也是那个以智计出名的文侯！
我的胸口一闷，似乎有血堵在那里，身后的蛇人已象潮水一样涌上，夹着它们的怪吼，真如山洪突发。我咬了咬牙，正待向前，突然却听得二太子道：“救……救我！”
他摔下的那个陷阱不是太深，大概连夜挖出，也不能挖得太深。底下插了一些削得尖尖的竹签，二太子的马一掉进里面已被竹签刺得千疮百孔，死在里面了，二太子却在千钧一发时一把抓住了陷阱壁，正挂在上面。我催马过来，弯腰道：“殿下，抓住我！”
能救回二太子，我还有一线生机，不然，我回不去自会死在蛇人军中，回城也会被斩首。现在，我也只有这一个机会了。
飞羽已开始起步，我在马上弯下腰，那条受伤的腿一用力之下，血又涌了出来，只怕真清子给缝合的伤口又挣开了。我也不管这些，身体弯得几乎要贴到地面，看准了二太子的手腕，一把抓住，借着马力，猛地将他一提。二太子又发出了一声惨叫，人被我拉得飞了起来，我也差点被他带得摔落下马，死命抓着他，将他搁到了马背上。
It finally worked!我心头一喜，催马向前奔去。此时城门已在关上，吊桥也已拉起了足有丈许。我惊叫道：“殿下在这里，等一等！”
城头的士兵不知有没有听到我的话，但吊桥却突然顿了顿，我再顾不得怜惜飞羽，脚在飞羽肋下用力踢了一脚，飞羽长嘶一声，已象插上了翅膀，一跃而起，跳上了吊桥。
It's finally up!
飞羽冲势太大，借吊桥一振之势，竟然又直冲而上了一丈许。等落到地上时，我被震得浑身骨节一痛，象是散了架，横在鞍前的二太子也哼了一声。但借这一冲之势，飞羽象一支离弦的利箭，从正在闭合的城门中一闪而过，冲进了城里。
终于脱险了。等冲出了数百步，我才总算拉住了飞羽。尽管离城门已有数百步，我仍然可以听到城外惊雷一般的呐喊。恼羞成怒之下的山都一定在不顾一切地攻城，这等战势肯定惊心动魄之极。我将鞍前的二太子扶起，叫道：“殿下，你没事吧？”
二太子脸色煞白，话也说不出来。这时从身后奔来了一批人，方才我冲进城的势头实在太大，他们紧追过来，也直到此时赶到。当先一骑正是毕炜，他大声道：“殿下！殿下！”
二太子慢慢睁开眼，毕炜已冲到了他身边，一把抱住了他。我在马上还不觉得怎么样，但被毕炜这么一带，却坐不稳马鞍，人一下摔倒在地，摔得眼前金星乱冒。一个士兵过来忙扶起我，只听得毕炜正叫道：“快来人！送殿下到医官处！”一片混乱中，却听得二太子道：“我……我还好。”毕炜马上叫道：“殿下，殿下你没事！太好了，吉人自有天相。”声音充满了欣慰，好象他一心一意盼望二太子脱险。
我摇摇晃晃地站起身，指着毕炜，直想怒斥一声，但话却咽在喉头。毕炜已将二太子交给了几个抬着担架过来的士兵手里，他冲到我跟前道：“楚将军，你没事吧？”声音居然也充满了关切之意。
我正要大骂一句，这时，突然听得二太子声音微弱地道：“将……将反贼楚休红拿下！”
what!我惊得连骂毕炜的话也说不出来。毕炜却反应奇速，一把抓住我道：“殿下，你说什么？”
“楚休红……他是反贼！拿下！”
毕炜似乎万分不信，道：“殿下，你是不是弄错了？”但二太子声音微弱，又明白无误地道：“拿下！”
两个士兵过来卸下了我的刀，将我捆了起来。由于用力过度，我周身已经象变成了木头，什么感觉也没有，眼前却茫茫然什么也看不到，任由他们将我捆了起来。飞羽在一边打着响鼻，还不时把头凑到我脸颊边，喷出一股热气。腿上的伤口中，血已流得将一条腿全染得红了。
我被捆好后，毕炜在一边道：“将他的嘴也塞上。”
他是怕我大骂吧。可不知为什么，我却不想去骂他，我更想骂的是二太子。
天已大亮，太阳正渐渐升高，那两个士兵押着我向大牢走去，离城门口的厮杀声越来越远，但那些嘶吼和惨叫却象针一样时时扎入耳中，清清楚楚。