Chapter 15 Chapter Fourteen

The gates closed behind me.Putting the spear on the saddle, my heart was still beating wildly. Even though I didn't have much fear when facing the snake man, I was still afraid after all.When I entered the city, I felt even more afraid when I thought about it.I even brought 300 people out to face the Snake Man. If the Snake Man sent reinforcements, the Dragon Scale Army would be wiped out. If the Snake Man took advantage of the situation and charged into the city, the city would be destroyed immediately. As soon as I jumped off my horse, a soldier from the Dragon Scale Army led my horse away.I shouted towards the top of the wall: "Did the snake people attack?"

A soldier poked his head down from the city tower and said, "Those snake men have gone back and did not attack the city." It was as if a huge rock had been lifted from my heart, and a burst of joy followed immediately.The snake people didn't know there was such a person as Zheng Zhao, so we took a prisoner, and they didn't care too much.What they pay more attention to is probably Xue Wenyi's kite without a string. As soon as he thought of Xue Wenyi, Xue Wenyi was already shouting: "General Chu! General Chu!" He seldom yelled that loudly.Xue Wen also came back at the same time as Yu Dai, he was screaming so urgently, could it be that the snake man swallowed him when he resisted?It would be a joke if the snake man swallowed him in the city after saving him.

I hastened to run two steps and arrived at the camp of the Dragon Scale Army. At first glance, I saw a lot of people lined up, holding down a snake man on the ground.The snake man was about the height of a person when he was standing, but when he pressed it upright, he found that it took more than twenty people to hold it down. Xue Wen was also standing next to the snake man. He probably came not long ago. As soon as he saw me, he came up to me and said with a happy face: "General Chu, I'm done! I'm done!" He yelled so ecstatically, it was like a child who got what he dreamed of.I said, "Is it your flying kite?"

"That's not a kite, it's a flying machine!" He walked up to me and shouted loudly: "That's a flying machine! A machine for flying! I finally made it!" He was ecstatic when he heard it, but I still said calmly, "Flying can fly, but it still fell." "That's because I didn't think carefully. It seems that the direction of the wind in the sky is very chaotic. If the wind blows in one direction, I can land at the top of the city." I don't have time to listen to his nonsense anymore, so I said, "Xue Gongzheng, don't rush around again in the future. You must know that the current chief general, Yue Guohua, has just arrived and hasn't shown his power yet. Today you flew out of the city without authorization He knows it's amazing."

He seemed to be swallowed by me, unable to speak.I didn't want to listen to his words anymore, and said: "Xue Gongzheng, if there is something wrong, you should go back and think about it, but when you test your flying machine in the future, don't forget that you can't fly towards the snake man's camp." What else did Xue Wenyi say, I have already walked up the city wall quickly.Zheng Zhao was still on the wall, when he saw me, he hurried over and said, "General Chu, do you want me to read minds on that snake man?" I smiled and said, "You don't need mind reading skills to guess my thoughts."

"But……" He hesitated to speak, and I said, "Mr. Zheng, is there any inconvenience? Does it take a lot of your energy?" "That's not a problem," he said after thinking for a while, "It's just General Chu, don't let people know that I have mind reading skills." I nodded and said, "That's easy. I'll put the captured snake man in my tent, and you will still be in the tent of a prince. There is a layer of alms alms, so no one can see it." In my tent, the small compartment where Bai Wei Zi Polygonum used to live is still there, and I think it's just right for Zheng Zhao to go in.

He said: "That's fine. But, I'm going to Wuyang City after I finish this." I looked at him, and there was a look of eagerness in his eyes.He found out about Bai Wei's whereabouts from me, so he must really want to meet Bai Wei.I said, "Of course, I can give you a horse. When are you leaving?" "Leave as soon as this is done." I was taken aback and said, "So urgent? Does General Lu agree?" He smiled wryly, and said: "General Lu promised me that I can leave at any time, as long as I don't become an enemy of the imperial army. It's just that my petty skills are of little use in battle, and General Lu thinks highly of me. "

I can't help but be silent.Lu Jingyu is a human being, and I probably know it.If he could feel compassion, he would probably agree with Zheng Zhao to leave.I stretched out my hand, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Okay, let's go right away." I took him into my tent, which was also empty.Let Zheng Zhao settle down in the cubicle, and I walked out of my tent.Almost everyone in the Dragon Scale Army was outside watching the captured snake man.Although the distance between the snake man and the snake man was closer during the battle, it was the first time to capture a snake man alive.The snake man was tied to a flagpole. Because it was too long, it was tied into a spiral shape like a stick of jaggery eaten by a child. Many people surrounded it, including some soldiers from the right army. Come and see.

I approached the large group and called out, "General Kim." Among the crowd, Jin Qianshi squeezed out and said, "Commander." I said: "You move this snake man into my tent, and we will interrogate it." "But, it seems that this snake man can't say a word or two." I smiled and said, "You can always ask for something." These words are just perfunctory, but Jin Qianshi is a little confused, he must think that I am really a little unpredictable. Five or six soldiers carried the snake man in.The snake man is still about seven feet entangled like this, about the same height as a tall man.Jin Qianshi directed the soldiers to carry it in, and Wu Wanling and Yu Dai followed.Just about to put it in the middle of the tent, I said, "Wait, put it there."

I pointed to the compartment.The compartment was actually just a small tent, Jin Qianshi said: "Do you want to put it in?" "No need, just put it on the wall." After putting it away, I said, "General Jin, let's interrogate." Wu Wanling interjected: "Commander, we have asked this snake man, and it can only say 'you' and 'I' in total, like an idiot, probably can't ask anything." I said: "Try it." The words were a little weak, they were very surprised, they probably thought that I had worked so hard to catch such a snake man back, and they only said that I had some strange tricks.In fact, I do have a unique trick, but it is someone else who has this ability.

I walked up to the snake man.The snake man's eyes were covered with a white film, and his eyes seemed a little gray.I remember hearing people say that snakes have no eyelids. This snake man resembles a snake in many ways, and his eyes must be the same. I drew out the knife, patted the snake man's head, and said, "Hey, what's your name?" Jin Qianshi was so surprised that he couldn't help it.The snake man has a name, and they probably didn't expect it.But I know that the snake people must have a name, because the leader of the Nanmen snake people who speaks very well is called Shandu, and he also said something like "Batun" and "Fuxi", so they are probably some snake people name. When I slapped it like this, the white film on the snake man's eyes immediately faded away.It seems that although the snake people do not have eyelids, this layer of albuginea also has the function of eyelids. The snake man glanced at me with a pair of gloomy eyes, and a thin red tongue was sticking out of its mouth, as if a bunch of flames were spitting out from its mouth.After a long pause, it suddenly said in a strange tone: "Xicha, me." "Your name is Sicha?" "yes." I was delighted.This snake man's words are in order, maybe I can ask what I want to know without using mind reading skills.However, if he continued to ask, the snake man could not answer so fluently. He asked and asked, and it was nothing more than "yours" and "I am".This snake man doesn't look like a fake, but he doesn't really talk much. After asking for a long time, I couldn't get a clue, so I sighed.From the looks of it, there is absolutely nothing to ask. Has Zheng Zhao finished his mind-reading technique now? I said, "Come here, take this snake man out." I let out a long sigh.I'm not totally pretending to sigh like this. It's unknown whether Zheng Zhao can read the snake man's mind, but it's useless for me to ask it myself. I hope Zheng Zhao can gain something. The snake man was carried out, and the man was gone.Jin Qianshi sighed when he left, probably he thought that I ventured out of the city and tried my best to catch a snake man back, but it was useless at all, and it was not worth it for me. After all was gone, I drew back the curtain of the compartment.Zheng Zhaozheng was sitting cross-legged on the floor where Bai Wei and the others slept, with a look of astonishment on his face, it seemed that he must have known something.I said, "Mr. Zheng, what did you read?" Zheng Zhaodao: "Commander, I can't read the thoughts of the snake man." I didn't expect it to be this kind of answer, and I was a little annoyed: "What! Can't you understand a word?" "It's about the same. I don't know what that snake man thinks." I was confused, and said: "But I saw that you were surprised just now." "Because," he sat up on one hand, "this snake man's way of thinking is very similar to that of a human being, almost exactly the same." I said, "Is it in another language?" Zheng Zhao sighed, probably mocking people like me who pretend to understand.He said: "When people think things, they don't mainly use words. That's hard to tell. I just used mind reading skills on this snake man, and it was not troublesome. It's just that what this snake man thinks is different from a person I have met before." It’s the same when you’re thinking about it.” He spoke fairly calmly, but he was no different from a Jiao Lei.Thinking almost exactly the same as the snake people, then this person must have a very close relationship with the snake people.And Zheng Zhao also said that he couldn't read the minds of three people, and one of them was Gao Tiechong. I frowned and said, "Is it Gao Canjun?" "Yes!" His left fist hit his right palm fiercely, "That's the man!" There were waves of coolness on my body.Wu Keqing told me that day that he was suspecting that a person was a traitor, but there was no evidence.Could it be that he also suspected that it was Gao Tie Chong?However, although driving fish for Yuan was the grand strategy set by Marquis Wen, Gao Tie Chong made the concrete implementation of the encirclement plan of the four generals.If he is a traitor, why did he spare no effort to help the imperial army break the city? Perhaps, the Snake Man and the Republican Army really have nothing to do with each other, and the Snake Man would prefer to see both the Imperial Army and the Republican Army suffer.But after the snake man wins, how sure is Gao Tiechong that the victorious snake man will not be against him? I was dizzy thinking about it, and I said to myself: "That may be because Gao Canjun and the snake man speak the same mother tongue. The snake man can speak the imperial dialect, so he must have learned it, maybe he didn't learn it the first time." The imperial language, but the language of another race." Zheng Zhaodao: "General Chu, I told you that no matter what a person is thinking, most of them can understand it with mind reading skills. A person can't just think with words. Don't you think that when you think about something, you can think about it?" Is it a single word?" I was a little dazed.This kind of fact is too mysterious, but it is right to think about it, thinking has nothing to do with words.Can illiterate people not think?It has nothing to do with language, and people who are born deaf and dumb can also think about it.So what does Zheng Zhao mean by "unreadable"?If you can't read it, you can say it's because that person is too strong-willed, but you can't read it, could it be... I don't dare to think about it anymore.I vaguely feel that Zheng Zhao is also very troubled by not being able to understand this kind of thing, because he has never encountered such a thing before.If you can't read it, it means that the way of thinking is completely different from that of people, so you can't read it.The conceivable way is completely different from that of human beings. Could it be that Gao Tiechong is a snake man? I remember that although Gao Tiechong often sat in a wheelchair, he also walked down the ground.The first time I killed that snake man and dragged the body out of Marquis Wu's tent, Gao Tie rushed to see him.At that time I saw him walk to the body of the snake man, definitely on two legs. I can't think about it anymore.At this moment, Zheng Zhao said timidly, "General Chu, can I go?" I thought for a while and said, "Mr. Zheng, okay. By the way, are you sure that the snake man and that man think in the same way?" "It's that Gao Canjun?" He thought for a while, "I can't say it's exactly the same, but the way they think is very similar, there must be some kind of connection. For example..." He was a little unclear, as if he wanted to make an analogy, and after a pause, he suddenly said: "By the way, General Chu, did you see those trees?" Most of the trees in the city had been stripped of their bark, which was the result of the republican army running out of food. Looking at it, it was just a series of strangely shaped wooden pillars.I said: "What's wrong?" "Those trees look completely different, but no matter which one you see, you will know that it is a tree when you look at the other one. The way the snake man and Gao Canjun think in their hearts is also like that." I sneered and didn't answer.Now I don't have any evidence at hand, of course I can't prove that Gao Tiechong is a traitor, even if I drag Zheng Zhao to report to Marquis Wu, he will never believe it.Although I am very popular with Marquis Wu now, several incidents that have happened in succession will definitely reduce my status in Marquis Wu's mind, and I am definitely not as good as Gao Tie Chong, the number one counselor in the army. However, he will definitely take action. I walked out of the camp, and Zheng Zhao followed.I looked at the Dragon Scale Army who rarely relaxed, and felt heavy in my heart. The Dragon Scale Army is now implementing the military regulations formulated by Wu Wanling, and the discipline has improved a lot.Because they are very young and full of energy, there is almost no time to stop. Among these people, after a few years, there may be a successor to Marquis Wu.Anyway, for others and for oneself, the first task now is actually to dig out this traitor. If the traitor is really Gao Tiechong, I really can't understand why he would spare no effort to offer suggestions.All the strategies he proposed were quite effective. If I were Marquis Wu, I would not believe that he would be a traitor. It was almost dusk.The dusk in southern Xinjiang is peaceful and quiet.The blue sky is half-closed at sunset, and I'm afraid it will be another sunny day tomorrow.This is rare in the rainy season, but it is only a rare sunny day.The snake man hadn't attacked the city for two days, and was still dispatching outside the city. He didn't know what his plan was, but if he didn't look at them, he would have the illusion of a peaceful and prosperous world. The smell of corpses in the city has been diluted by the rain.That is also a rule passed down from ancient times. Although the smell of burning dead bodies is not good, once the corpses rot, miasma will be produced. At that time, it is not a trivial matter to smell bad.When the great emperor conquered the kingdom, when he finally attacked the Jialuo Kingdom in the western Xinjiang, Shihu City, the capital of the Jialuo Kingdom, was besieged for two months. It was the scorching heat, and the dead in the city were not counted. Some of them were infected with the epidemic and died, so that the emperor did not dare to enter the city. The once prominent city fell down. It was not until a hundred years later that Shihu City regained its vitality. Where Shihu City is located, there is not much rain, but Gaojiu City is located in the southern border, and there is a lot of rain. If the corpses were not burned continuously, we would not even dare to enter the city.In fact, even if we stopped attacking the city, the Republicans wouldn't be able to hold it for a month.After entering the rainy season, they don't have the manpower to burn the corpses, and a major epidemic will definitely break out.Marquis Wu also didn't want Gaojiu City to become a dead city, so he had to rush into the city before the rainy season. Zheng Zhao followed behind me and said, "General Chu, then I have to go." I nodded and said, "Okay, thank you." Indeed, Zheng Zhao has helped me a lot.I said, "When you see Bai Wei, say hello for me." Although they were captives, I never seemed to regard them as captives.When it comes to Bai Wei, my heart hurts again. Snow-white fingers, the sound of pipa like spring water.She is still in Marquis Wu's tent, as a female singer selected from among the captives, she will be dedicated to the emperor after class. I can't help but reach out and cover my chest.Every time I think of her, I have a heartache. Maybe, she didn't even know there was me? Zheng Zhao also saw my appearance and said, "General Chu, what's wrong with you?" In his mind, I was probably a soldier who killed people without blinking an eye, and he must not be able to guess what I was thinking.I said: "You are not allowed to read my mind." "Of course." He smiled, "I'm afraid I won't be able to use mind reading skills today." I sigh.Zheng Zhao may have also joined the Republican Army, but at this time he is helping the Imperial Army.For him, whether it is a republic or a monarchy, it is none of his business.I said: "But it's a pity that your mind-reading skills are not used in war." "Wouldn't it be better if there was no war?" There was some bitterness in his smile, and I smiled bitterly too. What can I do if there is no war?Ye Tai can open a medical clinic, Xue Wen is also a superb carpenter, and Zhang Longyou can also make strange medicines. That kind of gunpowder is very effective for hunting and mountain digging, and they might even make a fortune.But what about me?What else can I do but fight?I can read and write, maybe I can open a children's house and teach children to read and write as a career.If she is there, every day, when I come home from teaching the children, she prepares some simple but delicious meals for me, what's the harm? But now it's just war. I laughed.Although there is only a wry smile. At this time, a messenger came over and shouted at the gate of the Longlin army camp: "The commander of the Longlin army, Chu Xiuhong, hastened to the central army, General Yue called." Did Yue Guohua ask me to go?I said to Zheng Zhao: "Mr. Zheng, I'm leaving. I wish you good luck." Yue Guohua's Chinese army is a new camp.When I got to the door and jumped off my horse, a guard shouted: "The Dragon Scale Army is under the command of Chu Xiuhong." I looked around.There were no other generals' mounts around.Could it be that Yue Guohua only summoned me? At this time, Hu Zhen, the new Chinese military officer, came out and said, "General Chu, you are here. General Yue is waiting for you." They are all from the Chinese army.The right army's reduction in personnel this time is not too much, but it has lost the most senior generals.I remembered Tian Weilai, the former Chinese army.Hu Zhen and Tian Wei are completely two kinds of people. When I walked into the tent, Yue Guohua was looking at a map on the wall with his hands behind his back. It was the distribution map of the various units of the left army stationed in the city. Yue Guohua was watching it intently, and there was no one around.I knelt down and said, "Chu Xiuhong, the commander of the Dragon Scale Army, see General Yue." Yue Guohua turned around and said, "General Chu, you are here, please sit down." I sat down and he sat across from me.Yue Guohua was known for his approachability when he was in the Central Army, and he was still the same when he was in the Right Army.I said, "General Yue, what is the purpose of summoning me?" Yue Guohua pondered for a while, and said: "General Chu, there is something that depends on your heart." "What's up?" He stood up, sighed, and said, "The surplus food in the army is only enough for ten days." I have heard this too.At the teacher-teacher meeting of Marquis Wu back then, De Yang said that at that time the military rations were only enough to last for one month.The army retreated at the North Gate and was attacked, the rear army suffered heavy casualties, and nearly half of their luggage was lost. Up to now, it should only last about ten days. I said: "Didn't the Lord transfer the grain from Wuyang City? We should be back tomorrow. As soon as this batch of grain arrives, we will probably be able to teach smoothly." There is only ten days of surplus food, even if the class can go smoothly, even if there are occasional supplements along the way, half of the people will starve to death on the way. He smiled wryly, and said, "The envoy of Wuyang City's grain adjustment army has returned today, and the owner of Wuyang City refused to adjust the grain." "What?" I was taken aback, "Isn't the Lord of Wuyang City afraid that we will wipe out his Wuyang City?" He just smiled wryly: "There is no harvest, and the remaining grain is exhausted. In short, the owner of Wuyang City is full of grandiose reasons. I think that the surplus grain of Wuyang City must not be much. Since our southern expedition, the population of Wuyang City has increased by almost one." Bei, when he passed by Wuyang City during the South Expedition, more than half of his surplus grain had been mobilized, and now I am afraid that he will not be able to mobilize the surplus grain. The military envoy had just returned, and the prince was afraid that the army's morale would be shaken, so he ordered me to notify the generals of the right army separately. Today's I'm afraid the distribution of rations will also be reduced, General Chu, if the soldiers make noise, you have to suppress it. This matter is extremely confidential and must not be leaked." I'm at a loss.The army has not been able to fight back yet, but after spending a day in Gaojiu City, the surplus food seems to be less than a day.In a few more days, once the food is exhausted, the big defeat is inevitable.At that time, I am afraid that there will not be a single one of the remaining 90,000 troops in the city, even if they escape for their lives, they may not be able to. I don't even know how I got out of the Chinese army tent.On the way, I felt drowsy like a dream, and all I could think about was eating. When I was in the imperial capital, although I couldn't eat anything good, I always had three meals a day.Thinking about it now, there was really nothing to complain about before, thank God if I could eat enough. Back in the Longlin Barracks, Zheng Zhao was no longer there.He probably left the army and went to look for Bai Wei in Wuyang City.When we arrived at the camp, it was getting dark, and we took turns to rest today, so I fell asleep and fell asleep. In my sleep, I was still full of food. When I woke up, it was still dark, and there was already a quarrel outside.I pushed off the blanket that was covering me and got up. Food was being distributed outside.Now there are three cakes per person per day.Three cakes are not enough for ordinary people, and it is not enough for the carefully selected and strong soldiers of the Dragon Scale Army.I walked into the camp, and the soldiers were swearing while eating dry biscuits.Jin Qianshi and a few soldiers were arguing with the food officer who distributed the dry biscuits, and the food officer was just arguing loudly that there were still three pieces of cake for one person, and no more. As soon as Jin Qianshi saw me coming, he said loudly: "General Chu, yesterday there were four tickets for each person, but today there are three tickets. This food officer must have deducted our rations. Commander, let's report to General Yue." The food official said: "General Jin, you can't say that, you have asked the prince for instructions." Jin Qianshi said angrily: "Isn't the grain transferred from Wuyang City coming today? Why do you want to reduce the ration?" "The rations transferred from Wuyang City are not too much. If we eat up all of it now, what will we do in the future?" The grain official said it plausibly, but he also justified it. I'm afraid he didn't know about the failure of grain adjustment.I said: "General Jin, forgive him for not having the guts to withhold our rations. Anyway, as soon as the transferred rations arrive, we won't have to worry about these days, so let's get through it. Today's drills will be suspended for one day. If you think we have more rations than others, you will be jealous." Jin Qianshi also calmed down at this time, and said: "The commander is right. Damn it, I have been hungry for the past two days. In a few days, I am afraid I can eat human flesh." When he mentioned the word "human flesh", he suddenly licked his lips.I was startled and said, "General Jin, what are you going to do? Do you really want to eat human flesh?" He laughed: "Chu Tong led a laugh. I can't eat human flesh, but I can always eat snake human flesh. People in the south usually like to eat snake meat, and they often say, 'When the autumn wind blows, three snakes are fat'. It is spring, and snakes are not too big. Fat, there is always some meat." Then I thought of the snake man I had captured, and my heart skipped a beat.If the snake man can be used as rations, it will be a party.It's just that the snake man eats people for a living. When I think of eating a snake man, I think of the stumps and human heads I saw in the snake man's stomach, and I can't help feeling sick.I said, "Where did you put that snake man?" Jin Qianshi said: "Shut up in an empty tent. Commander, are you useless?" Seeing him eager to try, it seems that he will do it at any time.I said: "It's not that time yet, maybe I can ask something." This is also perfunctory.Jin Qianshi saw with his own eyes that I asked for a long time but couldn't ask anything, he didn't know, even Zheng Zhao couldn't understand what the snake man was thinking with his mind reading skills, and at best he would just starve to death when he was locked there.It's just that I always feel that even a snake eater is a bit like eating human flesh.I don't let them do it, it's just some inexplicable compassion. He was also a little depressed. At this moment, there was another burst of cheers in the city.Hearing the voice, it also came from the east gate. "what is that?" I tried to look up, but I couldn't see anything clearly.At this time, Yu Dai said: "I'll go up and have a look." He took two steps in three steps and rushed up to the arrow tower where the telescope was placed.Suddenly, he cheered: "It's the grain cart! The grain cart has arrived!" Jin Qianshi also cheered and said, "How many cars are there?" "There seem to be twenty." A large cart can hold seven to eight thousand catties of rice, and if there are twenty carts, it will have at least 150,000 catties of rice.Although it is still a drop in the bucket for the imperial army, on a per capita basis, each person only gets more than one catty.Mix some other things to make dry biscuits, and at most, one person can share seven or eight.But it is inspiring after all.However, I know that it is definitely not food, and even this little hope is just an illusion. Yue Guohua told me that Wuyang City failed to transfer a grain of grain, which was probably a strategy set by Marquis Wu in order not to lose the morale of the army.But doing so is tantamount to drinking poison. Once the matter is revealed, the morale of the army may be out of control. Just as I was thinking, I heard the sound of thunder and drums outside the tent again: "The commander of the Dragon Scale Army, Chu Xiuhong, listened to the order." I rushed out of the camp, Lei Gu reined in his horse and said, "Commander Chu, hurry to the king's tent to hold an emergency meeting." I said to Jin Qianshi: "General Jin, you are in charge here, I will come right after the meeting." Jump on the horse, hit the horse and run to the Chinese army. I don't know what Wuhou wants to order. As soon as I got off my horse after entering the Chinese army, someone took my horse away. I walked into the tent, knelt down and said, "The commander of the Dragon Scale Army, Chu Xiuhong, listens to the order." There are already quite a few people in the tent, the most eye-catching thing is that Cang Yuegong is also sitting at the front.He was in the same row as Lu Jingyu and the others.But Luo Jingwei didn't come, and the one sitting in his place was Hu Shi'an, a central soldier of the rear army. After Qi, Marquis Wu said: "Generals, I have some bad news to tell you all. The general leader of the army, General Luo Jingwei, died of serious injuries and passed away in the early morning." Luo Jingwei is dead?I was not shocked at all, probably because I had heard too much of this kind of news, and I was a little numb, and I was still thinking about it. Now the three most senior generals of the rear army have all died in battle, more than the right army. Marquis Wu said: "General Luo's coffin will be put together with General Shen for the time being, and he will be buried in the imperial capital after the division. That's an irony, Luo Jingwei and Shen Xiping were the most at odds during his lifetime, and after death they were put together affectionately. If they had spirits after death, they might also be dumbfounded... Just as I was thinking about it, Marquis Wu suddenly said again: "The 200,000 jin of grain transferred from Wuyang City has arrived today, and we can be a teacher from now on. I don't know which general is willing to open the way?" That is the true meaning of Marquis Wu.Now, we have been driven to a dead end, if we continue to defend, we will surely die, and Marquis Wu will also retreat in danger.It's just that there is no food in the army. Didn't he order all levels to convey it individually?Why do you want to lie on the spot? Just as I was thinking about it, at this moment, Duke Cang Yue stood up suddenly and said: "Lord Wuhou, since Cang Yue joins forces with your army, Cang Yue will not let go of the responsibility of opening the way." I see!Marquis Wu convened this meeting in order to make Cang Yue take up this responsibility.This is also obviously a trap, it is for Cang Yue and the snake man to fight each other, but could it be that Cang Yue didn't understand what it meant and forced herself to jump into it? Marquis Wu said: "Mr. Cang Yue is able to accomplish this feat. A certain group of teachers will return to the imperial capital, and the safety of your department will be the responsibility of the subordinates. Don't worry, Mr. Cang Yue." This is by no means an easy task.Cang Yuegong volunteered to open the way, what was his intention?And why would Marquis Wu agree?Isn't he afraid of Duke Cang Yue's retaliation?Let him open the way, if Duke Cang Yue turned around and attacked us instead, what should we do? Cang Yuegong also just smiled lightly, and said: "Your promise is worth more than a thousand jun, and I hope that after you return, you will explain the difficulties of southern Xinjiang to the emperor, lighten the corvee, stop the conquest, the more than seven million people in southern Xinjiang, when Praise the virtue of the king." I sighed softly.Duke Cang Yue probably also hoped to use his last contribution in exchange for some benefits.However, the six words he said "light corvee, stop conquest" also won my heart.Cang Yue's rebellion was probably due to the heavy corvee imposed by the empire in the southern border. In order to rebuild the Great Wall in the northern border, the emperor sent 200,000 civilians to travel thousands of miles north.As a result, it was a waste of money for the people, and only 110,000 of the 200,000 people returned to their hometowns after completing the cultivation, and nearly half of them were buried in other places.Among them, there are tens of thousands of peasants from southern Xinjiang.Cang Yuegong said this, he is not an ordinary person.And what Lord Cang Yue said about the "seven million people in the southern border" is probably the number calculated before the war, and there are definitely not that many now.In the battle of Gaojiu City alone, more than 700,000 of the city's population of nearly 800,000 died.When other small cities were destroyed, countless people died. Now, I think the population of the three provinces in southern Xinjiang is only three or four million at most.To fight for two thousand miles, with millions of corpses buried, sounds majestic, but if the millions of miles include himself, then he would be easy to kill such as Chai Shengxiang, and he would definitely not want to. No matter what Cang Yue is thinking in her heart, such grandiose words are naturally very popular.No wonder in the early days of the Southern Border Rebellion, Cang Yuegong's flag was everywhere, invincible, and very few cities were loyal to the empire. Marquis Wu smiled at this moment, and said: "Mr. Cang Yue, the world is like chess, let's talk about these things later. All the troops will prepare immediately and leave the city in the middle of the night. In order is the right army, and the left army of General Lu is cut off." The order of retreat this time is different from last time.Marquis Wu walked in the front, he was afraid that Cang Yuegong would betray him.The Chinese army is much stronger than Luo Jingwei's rear army, plus the fire and mine bombs equipped, even if Cang Yue Gong really turned around, the 5,000 people are definitely not the opponent of the Chinese army, and they will not be out of control.But in this way, there is no way out. Once the Chinese army is attacked and the dragons are leaderless, how can they support it? Yue Guohua stood up at this moment and said: "Your Majesty, there are still nearly 20,000 residents in the city, what should we do?" Marquis Wu said: "Open the east gate, let them find their own way of life, each will live in peace." Most of the city's residents have dispersed, but there are still many women and children crowded at the east gate and unable to get out.Now the inspection at the east gate will definitely not be too strict. Who would want to search for some jewelry if they are too busy to take care of themselves?Marquis Wu did not order the massacre of the remaining city residents, probably because of the presence of Duke Cang Yue. Yue Guohua said: "But the people of Dongmen City are fighting for the way, so wouldn't it be much slower to withdraw the troops?" Marquis Wu smiled and said, "We are retreating from the south gate." What?If what Marquis Wu said before was reasonable, then now I almost think that I have heard it wrong.I looked at all the generals present, and all of them were a little bit tongue-tied. The South Gate was the first place where the Snakeman appeared. It was there that the Dragon Scale Army was hit hard for the first time. It was also there that everyone was shocked by the powerful field combat ability of the Snakeman.Moreover, after retreating from the east gate, although it took a detour to Wuyang City to return to the north, it was farther, but after all, this road was relatively safe.After withdrawing from the south gate, it will take a big circle to return to the north.But Marquis Wu actually wanted to forcibly withdraw his troops from the most unlikely south gate, what was his idea? Before Yue Guohua could speak, Chai Shengxiang had already called out: "Your Majesty, withdraw from the south gate, turn from the west to the north, and cross the Daxue Mountain, it is absolutely impossible. If you go around from the east, you have to walk a lot more." Baili Road, if the snake man attacks on this road, how should we defend against it?" Marquis Wu said: "It's hard to travel by land, so let's go by water!" waterway!I was taken aback again.Indeed, if you go south for more than a hundred miles, you will reach the sea.There is a small city called Yebo City near the sea.Apart from fish and shrimp, Yebo City rarely produces grains, and because the journey is too far away, people in the imperial capital don't know about it.Yebo City naturally has boats, but how many boats can a small city with only over 10,000 people have? Others must have my doubts, Marquis Wu smiled slightly and said: "The Lord of Wuyang City has promised to call out ten large ships, twenty medium ships, and fifty small ships. They set off three days ago. When we arrive at Yebo City, the fleet must have arrived." This is indeed a good plan, but it is also a risk.Those big ships can hold two thousand people, medium ships have more than one thousand people, and small ships have more than three hundred people.According to this figure, the fleet can seat a total of 55,000 people.Deducting the original sailors on board, I am afraid that only half of them will be transported.Then after fleeing halfway, if the snake man came after him, how would a small town like Yebo City resist? At this time, Yue Guohua asked again: "Your Majesty, if the snake man chases Yebo City, what should we do? Besides, if the Lord of Yebo City shuts the door and refuses to accept him, wouldn't we be under the enemy?" I don't know if Yebo City was involved in Cang Yuegong's rebellion, but since it is also located in the south, it cannot escape its involvement.This idea is probably the intention of Duke Cang Yue, but Duke Cang Yue only arrived two days ago, this idea may have been decided long ago. How can you trust Cang Yuegong's idea like this?But now besides trusting him, I don't see any other way to go.However, with Marquis Wu's ability, is it really so gullible? Marquis Wu said: "The idea has been made, all the ministries will go back and make preparations as soon as possible." We stood together and said, "Obey." Just as the meeting was adjourning, Marquis Wu suddenly said: "General Qianfeng Yinglu, General Chu of Longlin Army, stay here." I was about to leave the camp, when I heard what Marquis Wu said, I couldn't help being startled.When all the generals in the tent dispersed, we knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, what else can I order?" Marquis Wu stood up from his seat and said: "You quickly mobilize the army and horses of the headquarters, and gather at the south gate of the city." My heart heats up.When Marquis Wu said so, he wanted us to be his bodyguards, to rectify the order of the class.In other words, Marquis Wu still trusts me after all.Lu Gongxing may not be able to feel anything, but I have a great sense of knowing him, and said: "The king has a life, and the last general will die." There was no expression of joy or anger on Marquis Wu's face.He left his seat, and the big eagle and little eagle on one side put a cloak on him, and he walked out of the tent.When he walked past me, he patted my shoulder and said, "The person under Lu Jingyu's tent has already told me about you, don't worry, you don't need to worry anymore." That means Zheng Zhao said that I have no intention of treason.My nose was sore and I almost shed tears.等武侯一走，我道：“路将军，我先去了。” 终于到了班师的时候。前途莫测，武侯把我叫到身边，那也是把我当成亲信的意思。困守高鹫城就十多天来，已经发生了那么多事，我甚至以为自己已失去武侯的信任。可是刚才他对我的命令却明白告诉我，武侯仍然相信我。 我也根本不顾没好全的伤口在隐隐作痛，打马向龙鳞军驻地飞奔而去。 一到龙鳞军门口，我大喝道：“龙鳞军的弟兄，武侯有令，速速集合。” 吴万龄来了没几天，但他与金千石合作练兵大有成效。龙鳞军士兵本来还懒懒散散地或坐或行，我这般一叫，已极快地排好队，依序上马跑出营来。这等军纪，便是陆经渔的铁骑也不过如此了。 等他们集合完毕，金千石带马过来道：“统领，发生什么事了？” 我道：“全军班师，武侯命我们去南门侍卫。马上出发。” 西门到南门相距足有一里多路。一路打马过去，金千石跟在我身边道：“统领，真要班师了？怎么这么急？” 我不由怔了怔。的确，武侯一惯谋定而后动，上一次准备班师，也是先让后军先驻防城外，然后再撤走辎重营。这次却如此急法，虽然辎重营除了急用之物，都已装车待发，可也不至于这么急法。难道是他乱了方寸么？ 我道：“武侯自有策略，定已安排妥当，我们照做就是。” 也许，武侯是在害怕那个内奸又透露消息吧。这次这么急，是要打他们一个措手不及。全军全部从南门冲出，山都那支蛇人多半挡不住，可这一战也必定极为艰苦，武侯才要我们侍卫在他身边。只是这些倒也不必和金千石说了。 一到南门，前锋营已列队在城下。我道：“路将军，君侯在哪里？” 路恭行打马出来道：“君侯在城头，命你率龙鳞军上城护卫。” 他们都没有下马。大概前锋营人多，武侯是让他们呆在城下。我跳下马来，道：“弟兄们，大家上城。” 我们上了城头，我一眼便见武侯站在城门正上方，正注视着下面。我抢上前去，道：“君侯，末将龙鳞军统领楚休红前来听命。” 武侯转过头，道：“你们来了？护门之任，便由龙鳞军承担。” 现在还要护门么？可我也不敢多问，道：“是。” 他身边只侍立着一个护兵，也不知是大鹰还是小鹰，站在武侯身边动也不动。我站起身，道：“弟兄们，随我来。” 这时，武侯忽然眉一扬，向天上望去。我也抬头看着天空，却见一只什么鸟正向南飞去。这鸟飞得很高，一般箭矢也射不到的。 难道这里还有鸟么？自攻破高鹫城以来，城中便看不到鸟了，连老鼠也没有一只。共和军守城三月，罗掘已尽，而破城后，偶尔有鸟飞过，也早被城中吃厌干饼的帝国军射下来烤着吃了。这鸟又是从哪里来的？ 这时，江在轩上前道：“统领，我把它射下来。” 那说不定是那内奸放出的。我记得劳国基献火攻之计时，蛇人便是放出火鸟来破了我们的风筝。我点了点头，正待说好，武侯忽然道：“不得动手。” 他话音刚落，已有两支箭从城上射上。那大概是两个馋得急了的帝国军士兵射上，但这鸟飞得极高，又飞得急，那两支箭根本连边也碰不到。如果让我用贯日弓来射，虽然高度能达到，但准头多半不行，可江在轩那一级的神射手，说不定可以射中的。 我跪下道：“君侯，那只鸟说不定是内奸放出的……” 武侯笑了笑，道：“我知道。” 他没有再答话，只是看着那只鸟。 那鸟向南飞去，到了蛇人阵营上方，忽然落了下去。如果不是有人训练过，绝不会这样的。我道：“武侯……” 武侯没有答话，只是看着蛇人的阵营。蛇人阵营移近后，距城也不过一里多，紧贴树林。远远地望去，只见那里起了一阵骚动，也不知发生什么事了。 如果那只鸟真是内奸放出的，那么蛇人一定知道了我们是从南门撤军的消息了。我有点着急，不顾一切道：“君侯，若蛇人知道我们的策略，那我们这番撤军多半仍会遭袭的，君侯，三思啊。” 武侯没有看我，只是道：“楚将军，你别的不用多管，只消守住城门，听我将令。” 我无法再向武侯进谏，有点灰溜溜地退到一边。控制吊桥的两个中军士兵让开了，让我站到前面。 这时，有个人急匆匆地跑上城来，正是武侯的另一个护兵，也不知是大鹰还是小鹰。武侯道：“大鹰，事情如何？” 原来刚才侍立在武侯身边的是小鹰。他们两个是孪生子，长得一模一样，穿得甲胄也是一个样子的。如果天天见，说不定还能找出衣着上的细微不同，但我实在看不出有什么不同。武侯取这兄弟俩当护兵，倒也有意思。 大鹰走到武侯跟前，跪下来道：“君侯，果然是他。” “现在他在何处？” “他已回到自己营帐，我已命亲兵队在外守着。” 武侯哼了一声，道：“先不要打草惊蛇，等这儿的事一了，我要好好审问。” 我听得一头雾水，但也不敢问。听意思，武侯似乎已经发现了什么可疑人，可为什么不马上将他擒下，还要什么“等这儿的事一了”？ 我想得头痛也想不出来。此时，我不禁十分羡慕郑昭。虽然他说他读不出武侯的心思，可是至少别人都能读出来。 忽然，我的脑中象有闪电闪过。如果郑昭真读不出武侯的心思，即使有陆经渔在一边竭力鼓吹，武侯会相信么？ 武侯也是信奉眼见为实的人。郑昭如果真读不出武侯的心思，只怕马上会被他当成骗子，哪里还会让他来读我们的心，看哪个人真要跟随栾鹏谋反。那么，郑昭是在骗我了？所谓的读不出武侯的心思，只是一句假话？换而言之，读不出苍月公的心思，那也是一句假话？ 他为什么要在这两个人身上骗我？只是因为我问他武侯想什么么？而且，武侯已经知道了他有这样的本领，就算陆经渔答应郑昭随时离去，武侯也肯定不会放他走的。郑昭能顺利离开军队，一定也得到了武侯的默许。 我的头有些痛。郑昭已经离去了，只怕现在已经在去五羊城的路上。到底是什么原因，我可能再也无从知晓。我看了看肃立在雉堞边的武侯，心头一寒。 在这个绝世名将心里，到底有什么心思？ 这时，城里发出了一阵呼喝。一支兵马正向南门开来，那正是苍月公的五千兵马。 苍月公带来的五千多人马被安排在中军附近。这样明着可显示出武侯对与苍月联手的推诚布公，暗里也是让中军监视着苍月。我只是在东门看到随陆经渔过来时的苍月公一次，那次他穿着土黄色的长袍，看上去垂垂老矣，现在身上披着战甲，倒是个精神矍铄的老将。 他们开始列队出城，苍月公一马当先，出得城来，在护城河边向武侯拱了拱手，道：“君侯，开路之职，由我军任之，请贵军速速跟上，必要让妖孽无存身之地。” 武侯笑了笑，道：“苍月公，小心了。” 他的话很是和缓，听着他们的对话，一定听不出他们不久前还是势不两立的对手。 五千兵马很有秩序。苍月公的骑兵不多，大约只有一千多，其他都是步兵，兵器也有不少破损，但是士气很是高昂。如果不是我多心，那几乎有种悲壮的气概。 对于共和军来说，以前的信念是消灭帝国，重建一番新天地。可造化弄人，现在却不得不以帮助帝国军以求立功来谋得存身之地，那些起事时豪气万丈的共和军将领一定也在痛苦不堪吧。 五千共和军走得很快，不过一会儿，共和军先头部队已在距城三百步外扎下阵势，最后一批也已出了城…… 可是，远远的，蛇人的营帐中已起了一片骚动，是从西面而来的。那是西城外的蛇人来增援南门蛇人的吧。看来，那只鸟的确是内奸传出的消息。 我正待向武侯禀报，武侯忽然道：“拉吊桥，关城门！” 共和军已在城外，而蛇人眼看也要攻击。现在我们人数占优，何况目的是南奔，即使会有一番苦战，但总还能大部安全撤离的。可武侯这道命令却无异于将城外的共和军弃之不顾，那可是背信弃义的行为。 我只道听错，武侯又喝道：“拉吊桥！关城门！你们听到没有！” 他的吼声很响亮，我一惊，和几个龙鳞军士兵拼命转动辘轳。 do not blame me.看着刚出城的共和军后军纷纷转过头，惊愕地望着城上，我心头一阵痛苦。 吊桥已拉了起来，城门也关上了。现在，只有五千共和军在城外，面对着蓄势待发的蛇人军。